CD review: Brett Anderson - "Black Rainbows"

Former Suede frontman Brett Anderson was stung badly by criticism of his previous, more theatrical solo outings and announced that his new album would feature “no flute players, no strings, no gimmicks, just passion”.

But Anderson’s natural cinematic sweep, along with guitarist Bernard Butler’s sonic virtuosity, distinguished Suede from their Britpop peers and continued thereafter to distinguish all things Brett. Thankfully, Black Rainbows is not the radical departure that was promised. Our strung-out flâneur returns in fine form with a new set of damaged character sketches aspiring to the inspirational. One hardly notices the missing flute.

(EMI)

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