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Editorial Review:
At first glance, it’s a bizarre pairing: Isobel Campbell, formerly of Scots twee-popstrels Belle and Sebastian, and Mark Lanegan, the giant redwood who towered at the microphone of Seattle’s Americana demi-legends Screaming Trees. But on Ballad Of The Broken Seas, we see not only many points of conciliation between these two diverse vocalists, but learn a little more about each in the process. Lanegan’s last few albums have been dour, zombified affairs, but on "(Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me" his rich, lightning-scarred vocal sounds warm, revitalised--romantic, even.
Campbell, meanwhile, is anything but a wallflower: it’s her understated, siren-like vocals that define numbers like "The False Husband" and "Black Mountain", fragile, tremulous but exquisitely orchestrated numbers that hark back to classic British folk touchstones like Vashti Bunyan and Nick Drake. Most importantly, however, when they sing together, there’s genuine chemistry: see the magical "Revolver" or a cover of Hank Williams’ "Ramblin’ Man", which mark out Lanegan and Campbell as something of a Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra for the modern freak-folk set. --Louis Pattison
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Belle's best yet I can only agree with the earlier reviewer, the pairing of Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan is a match made in heaven. Some unkindly dismiss Belle as the 'princess of twee' but not here, that's for certain. There's a strong sense of rhythm dominating much of the music, and wonderful arrangements; False Husband has a terrific Morricone 'spagetti western' sound, a lone guitar with reverb disappearing into some deep well, and then those sonorous tubular bells. There's a good range of material, nearly all... more info
Nu folk-ish melodies with lovely voices The Ballad of the Broken Seas is a collaboration between American Mark Lanegan and Scotswomen Isobel Campbell (of Belle and Sebastian). I bought it because I read a review that said that their voices sounded the way you always wanted Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue to sound together. To an extent that is true: their voices compliment each other beautifully and have that mix of gruff darkness and sweet lightness. The songs, whilst not ground-breaking, have decent melodies and thoughtful lyrics.
Dark brilliance Mark Lanegan has already proved his worth collaborating with QOTSA on one of the standout tracks on their 'Lullabies' album and on the rather excellent solo album 'Bubblegum', so joining forces with Belle And Sebastien's Isobel Campbell might have come as a bit of a surprise. The results however are really, REALLY good...sometimes breathtaking! As soon as first track Dues Ibi Est begins you know you're in for something special. Mark Lanegan's growl is used to perfect effect in a Cohen-esque rumbling.... more info
a rant 1st of this is for "andrew".yes you are very right,don't buy this album expecting pretty belle and sebastian sounds,it's not anything like them.incase you didn't notice at 1st look MR MARK LANEGAN is on it aswell,who is miles and miles away from b&s purely because his music (be it with screaming tree's,himself,or qotsa)is far better! my second point is to the supposed "music fan".i don't even think your opinion on this should count,as you clearly don't know who the genius MARK LANEGAN is (a man formerly... more info
