Melissa Auf der Maur - Out Of Our Minds
Former Hole bass vixen succeeds on second solo album.
This second solo album from Melissa Auf der Maur is something she has taken her time over, arriving seven years after her debut. This creative effort sees her releasing not only an album, but a connected half hour film and a graphic novel. According to blurbs, the concept of the album involves “A fantasy world where a Viking heart, a car crash and a bleeding forest connect”. So far, so pretentious, but with just the album to review, we’re focusing on what we expect to be the strongest part of this creative triumvirate, the album.
‘The Hunt’ is a strong, intense instrumental opener, setting a tone for an album that will include off-the-wall-ideas and experimentation, but never so much that it becomes a difficult listen. Auf der Maur has an attractive voice that’s part alternative rock, part lounge singer; the hook that makes the unexpected twists of the music easier to digest. The title track is a highlight; as catchy as a pop masterpiece with none of the toe-curling connotations such a description might trigger. Her voice soars, the bass pulses, and before you know it you’re singing along. The album continues along this path of working its way into your heart with subtlety and grace.
This is not an album of singles, other than the title track and a superb duet with Glen Danzig (‘Father’s Grave’) there are few real stand-outs, but the songs are consistently brilliant. It might take a few listens to click, but once it does you won’t stop listening to it. The only fear is her creativity doesn’t go too far off-the-wall; there’s always a discomforting worry she’ll disappear up her own rear end on this particular conceptual journey, but this is an original and enchanting album. Fingers crossed she doesn’t keep us waiting another seven years for album number three.
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