Varieté (album)
Varieté is the fifteenth studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released on 7 June 2010 through Strike Force Entertainment, part of Cherry Red Records. Background. "Varieté" marks Almond's 30th year as a recording artist. It is his first album of original material in nine years. At the time of its release, Almond himself stated it would be his final album of original material as he had increasingly become more interested in recording pre-existing songs (as many of his covers albums have showcased), but this would prove to be untrue and he  went on to record further original material afterwards. Much of it is self-produced and co-written with longtime collaborators Neal Whitmore and Martin Watkins. The album was released in a standard one-disc jewel case and a limited edition two-disc digipak in a slip-sleeve version, featuring seven bonus tracks on the second disc. Critical reception. "Varieté" received mixed reviews from critics. "The Guardian" described a "nostalgic mood" but saw the album as "furrows already ploughed". "The Daily Telegraph" wrote about Almond's lyrics, stating that "his lyrical pen remains hilariously barbed", and called the album "self-composed  cabaret sleaze". The review in "The Scotsman" agreed that Almond is looking back with this album, returning "to old themes with alacrity", and summarised by calling "Varieté" "mischievous, lightweight fun compared to Almond's darker, more tortured journeys into European chanson". Simon Price in his review from "The Independent" called the album "an autobiography and also a hymn to the underground" and stated that Almond "is determined to squeeze life for its every last drop". The "AllMusic" review praised the production as flowing "freely from spare, late-night-in-the-cocktail-lounge settings to big, bold, orchestral statements". It also  had further commentary on the bonus tracks available with the limited edition version of the album, stating that the "more minimal, acoustic-based" songs shine "a brighter light on Almond's songwriting abilities".