Rowland S Howard

| Six Strings That Drew Blood

A must-have compilation for those who will shout ‘Genius!’ at the mention of Howard and his writing of the iconic Shivers when aged only 16, but there’s also plenty here for a Rowland newbie… at least once acclimatised to the unremittingly dark drawl and finger-bleeding guitar that span the years from The Boys Next Door aka the Birthday Party through These Immortal Souls and closing with most of his 2009 solo album, released only two months before his untimely death, aged 50. The later songs are richly recorded, and even the early material scrubs up impressively crunchily; the 2009 material is interspersed with songs from 1999, and you’d not easily pick the decade of difference. One fine inclusion is the 2007 track Summer High recorded with Magic Dirt, trading verses with Adalita Srsen and richly produced by Dean Turner just before his own death. This is a welcome anthology for those who knew his work, an education for those who didn’t. Me Close) but, with the sole exception of closing song The Troubles, it’s the Bono/Edge axis that lacks any amazeballs, turning no fresh soil, as if deciding to abandon experimentation and instead just knock one out under the excuse of referencing early influences such as The Clash, Joey Ramone and, err, earlier U2. It leaves a nagging notion of self-reference in their desire to reclaim the status of ‘best band in the world’ has left them now sounding like Coldplay did back when Coldplay were trying to sound like U2. for this lack of shape, wailing guitars and crashing drums flailing in overlapping sequences like a prog band trapped in a middle-eight that never ends. It’s an off-putting start for this collection of soundscapes pitched partway between mentor Eno’s ambient catalogue and Trent Reznor’s brand of hard-nailed electronica, yet offering too much action to work ambiently, not enough purpose to command full attention. One hopes Lanois will now take these wonderful noises and apply them to someone with something to say. their songwriting skills now in full flight the release was shelved in favour of the studio ‘Sheer Heart Attack’, which broke both the UK and US while adding monsters such as Now I’m Here and Killer Queen for their blistering return gig in November. Both gigs are released on audio (only the latter on the DVD and SD Blu-ray)—41 tracks over two hours 24 minutes—and it’s electrifying stuff, showcasing their early energy and confidence, especially on that triumphant if more thumpily recorded November return.