Perfume Genius - Put Your Back N 2 It (CD)

Well I never, this guys tender heartbreak laments have wormed their way under the skin of this gruff Bradford lad. Sensitive and desolate, this veers from confessional folk ballad to astral torch song with ease. There's certainly something for both the Antony and Bon Iver fans in that this is both the heart of a gay man laid to bare with all the scars on show and an intimate gracefully delivered isolationist album. There's piano and strings used sparingly, a sad-eyed gospel hue, even a southern Gothic dusting to some tracks. 'Take me Home' is gorgeous in the extreme. His melodic lullabies are imbued with both heartbreaking sentiment and pure hope. I dare you not to be moved, this is really accomplished and rousing stuff with genuine atmosphere,  Mike Hadreas has a fey but somehow powerful croon that should also take fans of Sufjan Stevens to that special place. Not usually my thing to be fair but I'm more than happy to be won over by this one.