Drops: Antony & the Johnsons' 'Swanlights'

Album cover for "Swanlights" by Antony and the Johnsons.

By GLENN GAMBOAglenn.gamboa@newsday.comOctober 8, 2010

With "Swanlights" (Secretly Canadian), Antony Hegarty bridges the gap between his raw, stunning breakthrough "I Am a Bird Now" and the lush follow-up "The Crying Light."

That's not to say Hegarty is reining in his ambitions. He establishes the musical theme of "everything is new" early, chanting it initially in "Everything Is New," acknowledging the feeling without going into details. By the time he reaches the epic "Christina's Farm," he can outline the reasons he is seeking a rebirth and how he knows he has achieved it: "Everything is new, every sock and shoe, my face and your face, tenderly renewed."

While the overarching connection adds another level to "Swanlights," Hegarty and The Johnsons know they are most effective when his distinctive, tremulous voice is least adorned, so the streamlined soul of "Thank You for Your Love," where he seemingly creates the happy ending to his wrenching trademark "Fistful of Love," is relentlessly spare. He sounds like he's about to burst with joy in "I'm in Love," with the minimalist orchestration and the looped synth riff only showcasing his excitement that much more. On the beautiful "Fletta," Hegarty's vocals flit and float like airborne ballerinas over gorgeous string arrangements and booming horns. Then, just when it doesn't seem like it could get any more beautiful, Björk drops in to take it to another level.

In a way, that's how "Swanlights" works overall, offering surprises within elegant surprises.