Hopes for another surprise American success from
Peter Murphy
with
Deep
's follow-up went unfulfilled, as success proved not to be the case; released in the initial craze of the grunge/alternative mega-crossover,
Smoke
's elegant ballads and angular, arty rockers simply didn't fit in. Taken on its own merits, though,
is quite a strong release, avoiding any cloning of
or
"Cuts You Up"
in favor of a different approach meant to bring out the band's live power more directly. Producer
Mike Thorne
gets some great performances out of them and
Murphy
both, giving the album a crisp, solid punch throughout, even during its quieter moments. The album is like
in one important respect -- variety, which is showcased successfully throughout.
"Low Room"
was an especially powerful blast, the band firing out a choppy, strong rhythm as
almost barks his lyrics; similar, if not as totally successful, energy appeared with
"Kill the Hate"
and
"Dream Gone By."
On the quieter tip,
"Let Me Love You,"
the understated drive of
"Our Secret Garden,"
and the lovely opener
"Keep Me From Harm"
are all fine showcases for
at his most love-drunk.
"The Sweetest Drop"
was the lead single, but better choices would have been
"You're So Close,"
with an anthemic, stunning chorus and a flat-out brilliant vocal, and the cleverly titled
"Hit Song."
's dramatic singing, concluding in a duet with guest singer
Alison Limerick
's lovely falsetto, makes it all the more enjoyable. ~ Ned Raggett