Home＜限定盤/Gold & Purple Marble Vinyl＞

Two of the singles Michael Milosh released ahead of Home had more dancefloor zest than anything off Blood, his previous Rhye album. Black Rain started with a somewhat Billie Jean-like beat and curlicued strings -- the latter deployed like the second coming of disco revivalists Faze Action -- and turned up the heat with some dramatic thrusts. Milosh finessed the change well enough that the song wouldve sounded just like Rhye even as an instrumental, without his characteristic sighing vocals and persuasive lyrics. Just before Home was released, Rhye entered Billboards Hot Dance/Electronic Songs for the first time as a headliner with Come In Closer, a lighter number making greater use of the strings and a touch of funk in the bass line. Those two songs, plus a third Roland LeFox collaboration -- the finely woven Sweetest Revenge, which with its snaking bass line evokes Kleeers mid-80s slow jam classic Intimate Connection -- ensure that Home is at once unmistakably Rhye and an obvious progression. Miloshs approach as a songwriter and vocalist hasnt changed much. Hes still addressing his lover, gently coaxing and assuring her, letting her know how he feels, communicating at all times on an intimate level. Throughout are references to (quiet) storms, waves, and rain made with literal and metaphorical purposes. The prevailing sense of solace (home indeed) is felt deepest in Come In Closer, where Milosh welcomes a visitor with You made it through these rough waters, and your hairs still wet/Come in from the cold. The songs made with Blood collaborators such as Itai Shapira, Nate Mercerau, and Ben Schwier arent retreads, either, still fleet but considerably heftier, as if the word dainty was drawn with a slash through it and posted on the walls of each studio where they worked. Another element that sets this apart from Miloshs earlier work is the Danish National Girls Choir, whose recurring presence is stirring rather than the cloying distraction it could have been. This being the Rhye album with the most layers, Milosh was wise to employ the brilliant Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails, the Killers) as mixing engineer. Every change pays off. ~ Andy Kellman

EPを挿んでの3作目。ソロ名義時代から室内楽的なベッドルーム・ポップを紡いできたミロシュだが、いざ〈家〉をテーマにした今作は、密室ムードよりも窓から見える朝靄を描写したような印象が勝る、開かれた聴き心地になったと言える。ポスト・クラシカル的な美しい弦楽と柔らかいピアノ、そして聖歌めいたコーラスがその景色を幽玄に表現。穏やかで親密、癒やしとダンサブル、ステイホーム中の感情をさまざまに彩ってくれる一枚だ。
bounce (C)池谷瑛子