- There are some albums you know you’re going to love from the very first chords, and from the very first chords of Perfume Genius’ new album Too Bright , you immediately get that welcome feeling. Too Bright is the Third Album for Perfume Genius, the nom de plume of Seattle singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas, and it could very well be his best work.

For this album Hadreas decamped to Bristol in the UK to work with Adrian Utley of Portishead, a man who has also had a hand in crafting excellent albums for singular talents such as Bat For Lashes and Marianne Faithfull. John Parish, of PJ Harvey fame, has also contributed to several tracks on Too Bright. There is a lot of subtle experimentation at work on this album, harmonics rise and fall and various melody lines excite when they’re played in. It leaves you in no doubt the British adventure has certainly paid off for Hadreas, contributing to a disciplined album that has really stretched his songs to new bold areas.

The songs on Too Bright reek of catharsis, but don’t suffer for it. This album is for lovers of individual expression in music, it’s not meant to be easy. What you have here is someone reflecting their experience of the world back at you, a man that has suffered from not only from homophobia, but also from the effects of Crohn’s disease. It’s not all wrapped up in doom and gloom though, just witness the glorious glamness of Queen to know that there’s a smart operator at work here.

Possibly the best thing one can say about this is that whilst Hadreas’ beautifully fragile voice could sell a veritable mint of records singing about sweet everyday disposal things, that Hadreas instead opts to be real, makes it something you’ll want to hang onto. There are elements of Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart that come through here as well as Alan Vega. One can especially hear a Suicide influence, whether intentional or not, on songs such as My Body and Grid with their insistent pulse.

Essentially however, to really appreciate this album it’s highly recommended one retreat to a couch. Put the album on the stereo nicely loud, lay back on the couch and take it in. It’s actually refreshing to find albums such as these, personal albums full of rich details, made for repeat listens.

- Ian Powne.