As little as four years ago, the prospect of a new Morrissey album would have been greeted with a collective shrug from the music world at large.
After the Lazarus-style comeback of You Are The Quarry however, the arrival of Ringleader Of The Tormentors is a very big deal indeed.
Thus Hot Press finds itself at an exclusive playback of the record, some two and a half months ahead of its release.
Given his recent flourish of activity (one live and two studio albums in three years), ....Tormentors unsurprisingly finds the singer in his most sprightly form for years.
From the swirling, darkly Eastern tones of opener ‘I Will See You In Far Off Places’, the record places Morrissey in the midst of a bold, brash and predominantly guitar-laden landscape. Which will obviously delight Smiths fans of old.
Add some Ennio Morricone-style strings and an inspired production job from Tony Visconti (whose glittering CV includes Bowie and T.Rex) and you have Morrissey’s most impressive solo record.
Visconti’s influence is clear throughout, helping Morrissey at last indulge his glam fantasies on the stomping ‘In The Future When All’s Well’ and ‘I Just Want To See The Boy Happy’.
As ever, though, the greatest attention will be paid to the lyrics and, while this isn’t exactly the greatest Morrissey party album in the world....ever!, it does feature equal parts love and happiness, alongside the usual death and misery.
‘The Father Who Must Be Killed’ (an unflinchingly grim tale of domestic abuse, featuring an unnerving children’s choir), ‘I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero Now’ and the lengthy ‘Life Is A Pigsty’ will satisfy Morrissey miserablists out there. Yet they might be surprised at the more upbeat mood which surfaces elsewhere.
“The heart feels free” he trills at one point and the album is an indication his mood has most definitely lifted. The reason, perhaps, may be found on ‘Dear God, Please Help Me’ with its talk of “explosive kegs between my legs” and “now I’m spreading your legs, with mine in between”.
Whether the reason is carnal or spiritual, ...Tormentors sees Morrissey at peace with himself. He is able to both poke fun at himself (“turning sickness into popular song”) and admit that “I’m finally in love again”.
In love with what? Life? Probably. With an unnamed other? Possibly. With music? On the evidence here, definitely.