Orphee

Alternative Press (12/00, p.110) - 4 out of 5 - "...A rich and diverse compilation of darkwave gems..."

Though its mix of old and newer songs is a bit quixotic -- and the fact that half its songs are on Projekt or a related label perhaps shows a touch of favoritism at work -- Orphee, assembled by Projekt label boss Sam Rosenthal, does a quite successful job at showing what he terms "an introspective descent into the male soul." Given how mainstream turn of the millennium pop/rock for male voices seems totally divided between quavery froth and brute roars, Orphee does a great job at showing another route, where emotions aren't hidden and theatricality isn't a dirty word. While many of the groups featured can generally be considered goth, some of Rosenthal's most inspired choices look toward other areas. The lead track is one of the most surprising and stunning, nothing less than a new song, "Quiet Splendour," from John Foxx, the original lead singer of Ultravox. Showcasing his new, heavily meditative style, which uses his wordless vocals and electronics for a haunting, droning atmospheric piece without sounding like bad new age, it's a smart, immediately entrancing way for Orphee to begin. Older cuts from Tones on Tail (the light samba of "Lions"), Pieter Nooten and Michael Brook ("After the Call"), and David Sylvian ("Nostalgia") are also inspired choices, while Sylvian's former Japan bandmates Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri are represented by the moody, percussive "Ringing the Bell Backwards." Longtime cult heroes Human Drama are represented by a recent song, "A Single White Rose," with Johnny Indovina's distinct voice matching the piano and string combination beautifully. In his Black Tape for a Blue Girl guise, Rosenthal contributes "A Chaos of Desire," definitely one of his most gloom-shrouded numbers, while his selections from labelmates like Soul Whirling Somewhere and Peter Ulrich are also smart. The fine design and packaging from former 23 Envelope associate Timothy O'Donnell and brief prose piece by Neil Gaiman on the Orpheus myth top it all off quite well. ~ Ned Raggett