Antony and the Johnsons- The Crying Light
CD Review
Artist: Antony and the Johnsons
Album: The Crying Light
Label: Secretly Canadian
Released: January 20th, 2009

Reviewed by Sarah Miller (Vancouver Correspondent)

You know that old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well it seems that the same goes for albums. Despite having what is undoubtedly the creepiest cover of all time, Crying Light - the new album from Antony and the Johnsons - is full of beautiful, lilting orchestral songs that transcend traditional music genres and will bring a tear to your eye.

The Crying Light is the follow-up to 2005’s I Am a Bird Now that won the prestigious Mercury Prize in the UK. Antony’s unique voice that blurs the lines between male and female, and the symphonic arrangements developed by Antony, Nico Muhly, Doug Wieselman and Maxim Molston are the driving force behind this project. The talent and wide range of musical experience that makes up the Johnsons is evident in their music that combines symphonic arrangements with elements of pop music, jazz and the blues.

The album explores the artist’s relationship with the natural world, focusing on peace that can be found in nature on ‘One Dove’, to the feelings of despair that arise when pondering a vanishing landscape on ‘Another World.’ ‘Kiss my Name’ is a more upbeat, joyful tune amidst an album of pensive, slower numbers.

On the surface The Crying Light is a beautiful orchestral album, marked by Antony’s inimitable voice. For those who want to dig deeper there are thoughtful comments made on humanity and our relationship to nature. It’s an album for the thinker, for someone who can look past the cover.

Track Listing
Here Eyes Are Underneath The Ground
Epilepsy is Dancing
One Dove
Kiss My Name
The Crying Light
Another World
Daylight and the sun
Aeon
Dust and Water
Everglade

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