Lift
Like a hand coming out of the shadows in a horror movie, Love and Rockets' new release catches you off guard; it's their most cohesive album in 10 years. Continuing the foray into electronica that the boys made with their last release (the dreadfulSweet F.A.) and mostly abandoning the echo-laden sound of previous efforts,Liftthrives on fidgeting synthesizers and "riddle me this" electronic percussion. Die-hard fans of L&R;'s earlier incarnation as three-fourths ofBauhauswill be thrilled that Peter Murphy cowrote "Resurrection Hex," one of the stronger cuts onLift. A collaboration withLuscious Jacksonon "Holy Fool" bubbles under the wicked seediness of Daniel Ash's vocals. Positively wonderful! Make no mistake, they still cast a good gloomy ballad in classic L&R; form on "Too Much Choice," but for the most part Lift boasts a new sense of dynamics that you didn't think they had in them.--Jason Josephes