Set My Heart On Fire Immediately＜Blue Vinyl/限定盤＞

パーソナルな歌詞と叙情的なピアノの音色、そこに重なる儚くも美しい歌声でデビューを果たすと、ザ・ナショナルやマイケル・スタイプ(REM)が賞賛を送り、作品をリリースするごとに大胆なエレクトロニック要素も取り込み着実に人気・実力をつけてきたシンガー・ソング・ライター、マイク・ハドレアスことパフューム・ジーニアスが通算5枚目となる最新アルバム『Set My Heart On Fire Immediately』を〈Matador〉よりリリース。

LAでレコーディングされたアルバムは前作と同じく、アラバマ・シェイクス、ハイム、スカイ・フェレイラ等を手掛けるグラミー賞ノミネート・プロデューサーのブレイク・ミルズが指揮を取り、セッション・ドラマーとして世界中で知られるジム・ケルトナーや、ザ・フー、ジョン・メイヤー・トリオ、ナイン・インチ・ネイルズなど数多の著名バンドでの演奏経験があるベーシスト、ピノ・パラディーノらが参加している。

アルバムからの1stシングル「Describe」は、今この瞬間を生きているという感覚を猛々しいディストーションと揺らぐスライドギターのサウンドで表現しており、アルバムを通じて、愛やセックス、思い出、身体などをテーマにポピュラー音楽のメソッドを用いながらも限りなくユニークなサウンドを作り出している。
今や世界的なバンドになったテーム・インパラとも共演するまでに成長を遂げたUSインディー・シーンの貴公子が放つ最高傑作がここに完成した。

On Perfume Genius previous albums, Mike Hadreas revealed so much of himself that its difficult to imagine hed have more to uncover. With Set My Heart on Fire, Immediately, however, he goes beyond baring his soul to exploring the power and tenderness of the body. Before making this record, Hadreas collaborated with choreographer Kate Wallich and her dance company the YC, not just writing the music for her piece The Sun Still Burns Here but performing in it as well. This collaborative, body-oriented way of making art had a profound impact on his fifth album. Set My Heart on Fire, Immediately is more theatrical and more direct than much of Perfume Genius earlier work, and revels in the physicality of his music in inspired ways. The albums textures are almost tangible, particularly on Describes thick distortion and flowing slide guitars, and with the standout On the Floor, he delivers the kind of irresistibly bouncy, joyous longing thats impossible not to dance to. Set My Heart on Fire, Immediately reunites Hadreas with producer Blake Mills, whose work on 2017s breathtaking No Shape earned a Grammy nomination. Once again, the pair covers lots of musical ground, subverting rugged Americana and sweeping, nostalgic melodies that have decades of emotional resonance behind them. Whole Life begins the album with a tremulous sigh and the sheltering drones that defined records like Put Your Back N 2 It before building into lush, almost syrupy symphonic pop majesty and twangy guitars. On the standouts Without You and Nothing at All, Hadreas borrows some of Bruce Springsteens manly chug and surrounds it with fluttering synths and sparkling pianos, echoing the vulnerability and growing strength within both songs (when he sings I got what you need, son on the latter track, it feels like hes talking to himself as much as a lover). More proof that a more physical and immediate Perfume Genius isnt one-dimensional comes with Jason, a dreamily sensual reverie that recalls Air or Blonde Redhead with its rounded, flowing bass and delicate harpsichord, and Moonbend, where flute, acoustic guitar and ever-so-slightly eerie harmonies come together as gracefully as a ballet. Frequently, Hadreas buries his voice in the mix on the album -- a daring choice for such an empathetic singer and lyricist, but one that conveys how engulfing his emotions are. On the mesmerizing Leave, strings overtake Hadreas wordless murmuring in a wave of passion that lives up to Set My Heart on Fire, Immediatelys name. The demanding, commanding nature of that title makes itself felt on songs as different as Your Body Changes Everythings dark swagger or the breathy pleas of Just a Touch. All the nuances of desire that Hadreas explores on Set My Heart on Fire, Immediately enhance the individuality of each song, as well as his own individuality -- and as he honors every part of his music and himself, he gives listeners another rich, densely packed album to savor. ~ Heather Phares