Rowland S. Howard - Pop Crimes

Rating: * * *

As returns to the musical stage go they don't get any better than this album from former Birthday Party guitarist and songwriter Rowland S. Howard. It's his first record in nearly 10 years after on-going issues with addiction, and more recently liver cancer.

It's only eight songs long, including two covers, but right from the opening beat, thrum, and magical whimsy of (I Know) A Girl Called Johnny, it's something special.

He's got a deathly and dour singing voice, and a deadbeat turn of phrase with two of his best lines - "pashing with the devil at the bus stop", and the repetitive refrain "she's my narcotic lollipop" - coming on the duet A Girl Called Johnny with Jonnine D from Melbourne art rockers HTRK (pronounced Hate Rock).

The creepy swagger and sporadic steely guitar wails of Pop Crimes makes you wanna suit up in your leathers and hit the road; Wayward Man is a posturing and noisy guitar hero salute; Ave Maria on the other hand is a stunningly sombre and poignant moment before the final track, The Golden Age of Bloodshed, sets off on a dusty and hazy walk on the wildside. It sounds like something his old bandmate Nick Cave came up with on his excellent soundtrack to Australian western, The Proposition in 2005 - only more rock.

Howard's deliciously understated take on Talk Talk's Life's What You Make It, with a repetitive, yet perfectly measured lurch throughout, makes it even more mysterious than the original.

A magical and moody rock'n'roll album.

Scott Kara