Brett Anderson: Crash About to Happen

Between the omnipresent, stark somberness, the title track’s chorus-drenched lead guitar line, and the reappropriation of a Joy Division title for the b-side “Isolation”, the new Brett Anderson digital single is drenched in early ‘80s post-punk signifiers. However, once you hear the Suede frontman interject his quivering croon into the proceedings, it’s impossible to mistake this record for the work of anyone else. No matter that the post-punk revival peaked years ago, “Crash About to Happen” and its companions warrant attention for being exemplars of tuneful verse/chorus pop songcraft. With this latest single from his solo LP Black Rainbows, it’s quite satisfying to find that Anderson has not only come to grips with how to make more subdued offerings tight and non-ponderous (something that eluded Suede for ages), but that he’s serving latter-day material to rival his band’s acclaimed early output.