Chaos and a Dancing Star

by Marc Almond

Overview

In his personal lexicon, pop chameleon Marc Almond seems to place special meaning on the word "star"; Chaos and a Dancing Star marks the fourth time he's employed it in an album title (alongside 1988's The Stars We Are, 1996's Fantastic Star, and 2007's Stardom Road). The thread that binds these outings to one another and Chaos and a Dancing Star is that all illuminate Almond's expansive view of pop and were deliberately aimed at the charts. Almond resumes his partnership with producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Braide; they worked together on 2015's The Velvet Trail. The pair began writing songs for this project in Los Angeles with a view toward delivering a prog album! Though it evolved from there, one can easily hear prog influences in the tragic opener "Black Sunrise," with majestic synths, processional drums, and Neal X's (nee Whitmore) guitar break. It's also there in the shattered love story, "The Stars Are Gone" (there's that word again) and single "Lord of Misrule," driven by Ian Anderson's flute. (Almond appeared with Anderson at Royal Albert Hall in 2013 when he performed Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick.) But the singer's prog touches offer just one of several styles here. "Hollywood Forever" is an aching paean to the bright lights, twisted ambitions, and ruined lives of Tinseltown, with a hooky rock outro carried by Neal X's guitar. "Chevrolet Corvette Stingray," another L.A.-penned number, is lyrically perverse yet melodically elegant, juxtaposing early-'60s radio pop with nightmarish postmodern cabaret. "Slow Burn Love" is anything but; its "whoa-oh-oh-oh" backing chorus, phase-shifted electric guitar, and pulsing drumkit, frame Almond's passionate and committed croon. The weight of his lyrics pairs seamlessly with his forceful delivery. "Fighting a War" juxtaposes Marc Bolan-esque glam with Soft Cell's swinging, big-beat dance grooves. "Chaos," with tick-ticking hi-hat and cascading piano, weds Brill Building-styled pop, early-'80s new wave, and French Saravah soul. The narrative poetry in "Cherry Tree" is Bowie-esque with a sweeping melody, dynamic strings, and synths, and layered backing vocals. While "Dreaming of the Sea" is a 21st century pop-cabaret anthem, closer "The Crow's Eyes Have Turned Blue" is quintessential dark Marc. Accompanied by a solo, gently reverbed, acoustic piano for the first half, Almond's protagonist is open, vulnerable, and alone. He sings as if resigned to the notion that love can only turn to ashes in a chaotic, polluted, merciless world. Strings enter and buoy him as the song is revealed as a suicide note. Before it concludes, a pulsing synth, hypnotic drumkit, and electric guitar, cut through; the protagonist describes his absent beloved from memory, as if singing from the other side of eternity. The production and performances on Chaos and a Dancing Star reveal Almond at his most sophisticated and ambitious. Thesebeautifully written and arranged songs arrive as deep emanations from the singer's personal well of passion, pleasure, heartbreak, sin, and loss. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	02/14/2020
Label:	Bmg
UPC:	4050538560091
Rank:	96115

Tracks

1. Black Sunrise
2. Hollywood Forever
3. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
4. Dust
5. Slow Burn Love
6. Fighting a War
7. Chaos
8. Dreaming of Sea
9. When the Stars Are Gone
10. Giallo
11. Lord of Misrule
12. The Crow's Eyes Have Turned Blue

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Marc Almond   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Ian Anderson   Flute,Featured Artist
Martin McCarrick   Cello,Violin
Armen Ra   Theremin
Bryan Chambers   Vocals (Background)
Dave Colquhoun   Guitar (Electric)
Chris Braide   Flute,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Celeste,Mellotron,Synthesizer,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Rhythm),Organ (Hammond),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Louise Marshall   Vocals (Background)
Neal X   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
James Beaumont   Vocals (Background)
Kimberlee McCarrick   Violin
Ash Soan   Drums
Kelly Barnes   Vocals (Background)
Andy Hodge   Fretless Bass,Guitar (Bass)

Technical Credits

Martin McCarrick   Arranger,String Arrangements
Mike Owen   Photography
Marc Almond   Arranger,Composer
Bryan Chambers   Arranger
Chris Braide   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Louise Marshall   Arranger
Kimberlee McCarrick   Arranger,String Arrangements
Mike Pietrini   Engineer,Mastering Engineer
Kelly Barnes   Arranger
Jonny Solway   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Etienne Gilfillan   Cover Photo,Photography