Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld: Still Smiling

- Still Smiling is the undeniably odd yet oddly great collaboration between Italian composer/sound artist Teho Teardo and Einstrurzende/Bad Seed Blixa Bargeld. It is a journey that delves into multiple genres and languages through its twelve delectable compositions. First, this is, if anything, closer to Blixa's later Neubauten work than Teardo's back-catalogue. Tracks such as single and album opener Mi Scusi only feels heartbeats away from Neubauten's Silence is Sexy and a more minimalist impression of The Garden. This is mainly due to the instrumentation, which, throughout the record, is generally centred on strings and also the creation of a sense of spaciousness within the composition. Bargeld's deliveries are not too far removed from his regular work either, which in turn makes this collaboration not very confronting for avid Bargeld enthusiasts. Anxolotl also reinforces by other means: notably the darkest track on the record, beginning in quasi-sound art before rhythm gradually coalesces, the song taking shape, becoming the vehicle for an outstanding section where Bargeld's muted screaming harmonises with a violin. The album's centrepiece is a cover of The Tiger Lillies classic Alone With The Moon. Considering how high the original is, naturally it comes down a few keys to meet up with Blixa. It's also its downfall, as the result fails to recreate the soaring beauty of the original. The expanded instrumentation is interesting in this context but only a footnote to the main game, failing to bridge its shortcomings. The reworking of Teho's A Quiet Life from his soundtrack to the film of the same name also suffers the same problem, however it is not as disillusioning and Bargeld does highlight the great lyrics within this track, even if its 6min runtime does test the listener's patience. The record's title track is like the whole thing in microcosm, encompassing every other element; though as odd as it sounds, if Bargeld's vocals were in Italian or German as with the highlight tracks on this record it would perhaps sound more effective. What If…? though, blends the use of English and Italian lyrics into a well rounded track that doesn't sound pretentious or unnecessary even though he could quite easily be saying "This isn't art you stupid jerk" and I wouldn't know. Non-album instrumental track I'll Be So Glad When The Sun Goes Down SHOULD have been included as it is a sublimely rich piece that showcases the amount of talent behind the two's work on the instrumentation within the record. Still Smiling is a great record on paper but one which only achieves a runner's-up prize in execution. The art style, imagery and lyrical context create a world that screams authentic brilliance but this 'odd' collaboration is let down in parts by its most appealing member. That's not to say it isn't worth getting, but as with the cover of Alone With The Moon, the whole way through I have the naggling feeling that this could be done better. - Brad Armstrong.