The majority of the songs on Before the Poison are written by PJ Harvey and Nick Cave. On the surface, a perfect fit for Faithfull — but perhaps it’s too perfect. The minimal relentlessness of the music, matched with the limited huskiness of Faithfull’s voice, is just too one-dimensional. By the halfway, mark you want to yell: “Yes, she’s a grizzled survivor — we get that already.” Perhaps the timing is bad, coming hot on the heels of excellent albums by Harvey and Cave, both of whom can sing their own songs with more range and power. Or perhaps Faithfull needs to cosy up to Damon Albarn — a less obvious collaborator — whose one contribution here forces Faithfull out of her “I’ve had it hard, me” comfort zone, revealing an unexpected body and depth to her voice.

Naive

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