Melancholic masterpiece. Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas, is coming in strong with his cathartic third album – Too Bright. Creating soft and sweet melodies while crafting frank and personal stories, Hadreas has created a unique and somber mood that carries the album from start to finish. Portishead’s Adrian Utley, who produced the album, adds a fitting element of sparse but effective basslines and synth squeaks that compliment the shaking vocals and twanging piano. “Queen” is one of the more dense and involved songs on the album – which isn’t saying much – but really shows off how a talented producer can take an artists vision and compliment it in a way that you would never assume the artist to try himself. Songs like “No Good” "All Along" and “Don’t Let Them In” are the quintessential examples of the drab (in a good way) songwriting that Hadreas is know for. The album as a whole is a gorgeous exploration of self and is a rare occurrence of quality storytelling, in album form, for this day and age.

• black vinyl pressing
• music label: Matador 2014

reviewed by boumtje-boumtje 10/2014