Marc Almond ‘Heart on Snow’ (XIII BIS Records), Released 08/12/03

As outrageous follies and vanity projects go, with ‘Heart on Snow’ Marc Almond has created a monstrosity that would put even some of Pink Floyd and Yes’s more outrageous moments to shame.  Ok, so we’re not talking mind numbingly boring prog-rock bollocks here, but the bottom clenchingly awful attempt by a ‘pop’ artist to tap into an ‘ethnic’ music style. 

No joking this makes Damon Albarn’s ‘Mali Music’ look like the most worthy musical project this side of Graceland, as Almond has a hack eyed attempt at traditional Russian folk songs such as ‘Oh, My Soul’ performed as a duet with Alla Bayanova.  Like Kevin Rowland’s and his bastardised cabaret version of Dexy’s Midnight Runners that he’s currently hawking around the countries theatres, what you can never deny despite the 100% solid gold cringe of ‘Heart…’, is that here is a real character with an emotive, soulful voice to match.  If he were to drop the pomp and grandiose ideas, this standard bearer of electronica may still have something to offer.