ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS Another World CD

Few artists can be as relevant live as Antony Hegarty. Together with his backing band The Johnsons, he focuses even more on the mood of the listener in his performances. His songs regularly hit an open nerve. Album opener (and title track) Cut The World immediately shows an exasperated Antony. This is the only new song on this CD and it immediately raises the whole above the level of a normal concert album. This effective beginning is followed by a more than seven-minute spoken discourse in which Antony reflects on religion and transgenderism. No frivolous stuff, but we are not used to that from the British singer. After this unusual and impressive beginning, beautiful, almost symphonic live performances of ten old songs follow. This CD is especially nice because of the welcome addition of the Danish National Chamber Orchestra. This makes the songs sound a bit more varied than their studio versions. A live album that matters!