Album Review: Perfume Genius Could “Set My Heart On Fire, Immediately”
From the minute Set My Heart On Fire, Immediately begins, you hear a wave of Americana sounds blended celestially. This record feels as if Alan Silvestri decided to do a collaboration with Johnny Cash or Hank Williams. Sonically, there is something rooted in classic country, but also sprouted in Perfume Genius’ penchant for mystifying, modern chamber pop. Perfume Genius – “On The Floor” (Official Music Video)
What I love about Set My Heart On Fire, Immediately is its ability to juxtapose varying sounds from two very different genres, Americana Folk and Art Pop, and show they both find their origins in people’s desires and need to dream. Vocally, he annotates like Chris Isaac, still on that beach, wet and wailing that he doesn’t want to fall in love. Yet, WE KNOW YOU DO, CHRIS! Still, that is the point of classic, folk songs and Perfume Genius’ new album: to display the push and pull of craving things and people you can’t control or even have.
Sex, love, and the bodily lust that binds them is at the heart of this record, which is why it feels sensually nostalgic like, you are fantasizing about the body of a lover you miss but never had. UGH! THE FEELS! This explains my Chris Isaac reference; to capture the stirring, internal passion of desire, Perfume Genius coos and ahhhs his uttered verses to make lyrical pleas for another’s touch: both spiritually and physically. From “Describe,” “Your Body Changes Everything,” and “One More Try” the album is glittered and gritted in sound so that you can dance in woeful euphoria.
Perfume Genius – “Describe” (Official Music Video)
Frankly, I love the melodrama of a song that plays both with happiness and sadness. Such a feat makes Set My Heart On Fire, Immediately an album that is a soulful vibe you can mentally envision. Just press play and let Perfume Genius’ Set My Heart On Fire, Immediately, out May 15, begin its movie through sound. Click Here For More Information.
