The 6ths The Sailor In Love With The Sea Featuring Gary Numan

Stephin Merritt s the 6ths second album isn t nearly as dynamic as his Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs, nor is it quite as good as the first 6ths album, Wasps Nests. It is, however, another crowning achievement for Merritt. As You Turn to Go, with Scottish eccentric Momus, is one of Merritt s most moving love songs, a tender, ironyfree caress. And the atmospheric Oahu wraps its spare melody in a package of primitive synth beeps (which repeat the same tranquil loop for the album s concluding 25 minutes). Hyacinths and Thistles falls between Merritt s two musical passions: oldstyle songwriting and 80s new wave. But the abundant, and diverse, choice of vocalists here (including Sally Timms, Bob Mould, Melanie, Gary Numan, and Marc Almond) puts the accent on the song, rather than the singer. Take this as Merritt the songwriter s demo tape, indication of what he is capable of.