Description
Jackie Levens The Mystery of Love Is Greater Than the Mystery of Death is one of those special releases that intrigues and puzzles on first listen, while laying new circuitry in your subconscious that draws you inexorably back for more. There is absolutely no premeditated format to relate this to, nor adequate words to convey this discs mesmerizing content. On one level, its all over the place, ranging from Celtic mysticism to BacharachDavid crooning, from atmospheric whispers to Big Countryish epic statements, from traditional folk instrumentation to lush strings. But it still works as a whole, linked in a loosely thematic way by thoughtful poetry fragments intoned by collaborator Robert Bly the Waterboys Mike Scott also guests on the sessions. Levens deep, reverbladen vocals he sang, in the early 80s with obscure new wave band Doll by Doll reminds one in places of another brilliant, enigmatic British performer, Scott Walker.
