Rufus Wainwright: Want Two

Herald rating: * * *

Martha's gay big brother Rufus has become an artist's artist - one whose notices from his peers and critics are yet to translate into widespread recognition.

As well as that family connection, he's gone through a drugs phase. Now he's delivered an album which starts off with an extravagant version of the Latin prayer Agnus Dei, declares himself the Gay Messiah and generally gives the impression that if 2003's Want One and now Two are to have a sequel, only a stage musical will do.

Among the semi-symphonic arrangements is some lovely stuff, where his songs come down to earth long enough to leave an impression beyond the self-indulgent theatrics.

The swooning likes of The One You Love and Peach Trees suggest he's less the new Jeff Buckley than the male k.d. lang; Little Sister continues the Wainwright family therapy theme; Hometown Waltz and Gay Messiah deliver its protest banner with musical restraint and Crumb by Crumb suggests Ron Sexsmith with a chorus line.

But those built-for-off-Broadway numbers such as Memphis Skyline and Art Teacher make this an album that, for all its heart-on-sleeve gestures, feels oddly remote.

Label: Dreamworks