You never know what Colin Meloy is going to come up with next. On this occasion The Decemberists’ singer has rustled up a concept record set in a magical forest. Of course, the very words “concept record” have probably triggered your retch reflex, but please stay with us on this one. Originally intended for the stage, The Hazards Of Love contains numerous motifs and musical reprises, but it is certainly not a work of prog excess and, though the story is labyrinthine, it never loses the run of itself.
Like exiles from some dusty collection of fairytales emerge Meloy’s archaic assembly of characters – there’s a hapless maiden, a despicable rake, a menacing Queen and a choir of child ghosts. It’s like Hansel & Gretel given an Edgar Allen Poe makeover. Musically we veer from trembling folk pastoral, note ‘Isn’t It A Lovely Night?’, to metal-plated rock – get a load of the riff action on ‘The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid’. Startling and marvellous, The Hazards Of Love is that rarest of creatures, a concept record whose execution is as fantastic as the premise is fantastical.
KEY TRACK: ‘THE RAKE’S SONG’