I posted the beautiful and somber “Pharaoh’s Chariot” from Soulsaver’s third album, Broken, in my Creepy Halloween Mix and liked it so much I decided to look up more songs. I ended up with all of it and a brand-new respect for this joint project of Rich Machin (above, right) and Mark Lanegan (left, of Screaming Trees), who wrote lyrics and provided vocals on most of the songs. Songs are primarily dark and reflective, powered by Lanegan’s ominous growl, although “All the Way Down” provides some welcome uplift. The album includes two instrumentals, “The Seventh Proof” and “Wise Blood” that have the grandeur and scope of the best movie theme you’ve ever heard. “Some Misunderstanding,” a composition by Gene Clark, one of the original Byrds, makes a stunning compliment to the tracks written by Machin and Lanegan.

I became so obsessed by “Unbalanced Pieces” that when time came to submit my favorite 50 songs of the year for the Contrast Podcast Festive 50 this song was high up on my list. “Unbalanced Pieces” did not make the final shortlist, so I contributed it to this week’s podcast theme, which, conveniently, is Broken. By the way, YOU too can vote in the Festive 50. Click the link to the shortlist, vote for your favorites and discover much more good music than you even suspected.

Other notable contributors to the strength of Broken are Will Oldham (a.k.a. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, who provides vocals on “Sunrise”) and Jimi Goodwin (Doves), Jason Pierce (Spiritualized) who duets with Lanegan on “Pharaoh’s Chariot,” and Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers) who contributes to “Death Bells.” But the most striking vocals besides Lanegan’s belong to Red Ghost (Rosa Agostino), an Australian singer who alternates verses with Lanegan on ‘Rolling Skies’ and takes over on “By My Side” (also written by Agostino) and the gorgeous and pensive “Praying Ground.” Anyone who admires PJ Harvey should rush to check out this track.

In short, Broken is a powerful and beautiful album that you should not end 2009 without hearing.

Soulsavers - Unbalanced Pieces from Broken

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Buy: Rough Trade, Amazon, iTunes

Filed under: Contrast Podcast, album review, Mark Lanegan, Rich Machin, Soulsavers

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