Creeper - Sex, Death And The Infinite Void
I missed out on Creeper’s early career, only becoming aware of them after they had finished touring debut albumEternity, In Your Arms and announced on stage that they were disbanding. Listening to this, the loss has been mine.
The music combines anthemic arena rock with glam, art-rock, punk energy and the dark, twisted humour of the best goth. The closest comparison may be the Killers but that is selling Creeper short. There are hints of the Tubes on Cyanide and Thorns of Love with the former also being reminiscent of Bowie’s Starman. Paradise is reminiscent of both Richard Hawley and Chris Isaac. Four Years Ago is a duet in the style of Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra or Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan. There are only two minor disappointments. Whilst Annabelle is an enjoyable slice of Oasis-meets-Mott The Hoople, Will’s vocals are too Liam Gallagher for my tastes. All My Friends is a moving piano ballad in the style of Lewis Capaldi but doesn’t fit in with the rest of the album.
This is hardly original and it pushes no boundaries but it is bloody good FUN. That is both little short of a miracle – given that guitarist Ian being sectioned whilst album was being written – and just what I need right now.
