Slade Templeton and his project Crying Vessel are quite productive, to say the least. A Beautiful Curse is already their fourth full-length in six years and it’s supposed to be their most ambitious one so far. What you expect is also what you get: A Beautiful Curse delivers finest Dark Wave magic with post-punk DNA and a certain pop appeal.
Channelling the sound of bands like The Cure (during their Pornography era), Gary Numan, Depeche Mode and other sinister synthpop heroes from the 1980s Templeton and his musical partner, drummer Basil Oberli, truly head for twilight here. If you happen to have a crush for that sort of sound like me, you’ll definitely enjoy this LP. Here’s what the mastermind got to say about it:
‘This album has taught me much more about myself than anything I have done to date. It has taught me patience. It has taught me to stand behind what I do. It has driven me to care greatly and deeply for my past experiences whether they were bad or good, and how they may relate to others in times of suffering or recovery from life events.’
A Beautiful Curse arrives on October 13th via Manic Depression Records but today we advise you to put on your finest black clothes and enjoy the exclusive advance stream of the new Crying Vessel album on NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION.