Crime And The City Solution
Paradise Discotheque

If a few years ago I had found myself in a record store with fifteen thousand lire in my pocket and the embarrassment of choice, I swear that the album of a band with such a name would have been a blind purchase. But my encounter with Crime and the City Solution was not of this kind.

In 1991, the film "Until the End of the World" by Wim Wenders was released: I went to see it and was spellbound. Within a few days, I bought the soundtrack, which I found very beautiful, especially in relation to the images on the big screen.

I must say I was disappointed not to find "Blood of Eden" on the vinyl: the sight of this airplane flying over the Australian desert accompanied by Peter Gabriel's wonderful song moved me.

However, the disappointment lasted only until I put the record on and reached the fourth groove: I remembered this track with its hypnotic and gothic flavor, but listening to it again was striking. It was Crime and the City Solution and the song was "The Adversary". What an emotion... (good vibrations, I suppose that's how you say it).

"Paradise Discotheque" is from 1990 and follows some already very good and important works. They are, needless to say, Australian, and the strength of this band lies in the magnificent arrangements (yet never redundant) and the melodramatic voice of Simon Bonnery: one would say a sort of Dave Gahan related to Nick Cave. One might say so, but in reality, Simon has a strong personality all his own and owes nothing to anyone.

This album includes "I Have the Gun", but it is not a folk music album; there are brass and horns, but it's not a soul or funk album; there are the strangest percussions, but it’s not a world music album; there are profound and philosophical lyrics, but it’s not singer-songwriter music; there are out-of-tune pianos, violins, and dissonances, but it is not a dark music album nor even prog rock despite the rich and refined arrangements.

This is pure, healthy, robust, and precious rock. Decadent just enough, gothic as needed, melodic just right, psychedelic enough.

It needs to be listened to, folks. I don’t know what else to add. Four stars? Or five? Maybe it depends on the days: now that winter is approaching, the stars can comfortably be five. On sunny days, I will want to listen to the Beach Boys, on sunny days...