There was a couple of things I was reluctant to mention, knowing how both age and location can be the deciding factors in the intractable UK fashion-market, so when I say that Afterhours has been around since 1986 when British journalist John McCarthy was kidnapped in Beirut, Argentina defeated West Germany 3-2 in the FIFA World Cup and Paul Simon released Graceland and that they, along with Pizza, Umberto Eco, Garibaldi, Olive Oil, Parmesan cheese and Roberto Baggio, are from Italy, try not to be prejudiced. This is a mighty fine album whatever your native language and just because Carlo Cudicini spoilt your chances of leaping ahead of United in Saturdays game at White Hart Lane, doesn’ty mean to say that new album, ‘Ballad For Little Hyenas’ won’t make the top end of the league this season.
Built solidly around front man Manuel Agnelli’s brooding intensity as performer and songwriter and producer/arranger, Greg Dulli (The Afghan Whigs, The Twilight Singers), ‘Ballad For Little Hyenas’ writhes a tortuous, baroque wormhole through a cinematic space that includes ‘Ok Computer’, ‘De-Loused in the Comatorium’ and Jeff Buckley’s ‘Grace’. It’s angsty, passionate, gothic and cerebral. In fact, its rather like Faith No More’s Mike Patton fronting the Velvet Underground (and where the band took the cue for their name). From the first tender opening bars of dark and twisted hymn, ‘The Thin White Line’ with its ruminative piano, orchestral guitar and violin, to the power-noises and bow-bass of the elegaic (yet pretty), ‘Andrea’s Birthday’ its clear Afterhours are furrowing the same tragic ground as ‘Paranoid Android’ and ‘No Surprises’, fleshed out with Giorgio Prette’s storm raising skin-pounding and Agnelli’s shredded, theatrical vocals.
Fans of the Archie Bronson Outfit will delight in the bruised, blister riffing of ‘White Widow’ and fans of Martin Grech and Buckley will find continuity in the epic balladry of ‘White Widow’ and ‘Desire Froze Here’.
Agnelli’s involvement with both music and literary festivals throughout his home country, has seen him engage with John Parish (PJ Harvey’s writing partner) and Hugo Race (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds). Facts that should translate naturally as ‘worthy of your attention’.