Johnny Marr and
Bernard Sumner have a unique musical companionship. Both artists bred the '80s British music scene into pop candy delight thanks to
Marr's charming guitar hooks while fronting
the Smiths, and
Sumner, whose ingenuous lyrical poetry pushed
New Order's dance-oriented sound into the new wave mainstream. But since their musical collaboration began back in 1991, the duo continues to make music for themselves, uninhibited by current norms and marketing success.
Twisted Tenderness, the band's third album, is certainly a vast improvement over their sophomore effort, 1996's
Raise the Pressure.
Twisted Tenderness steps back into
Marr's talented guitar work: carefree, a bit rollicking at times, but in classic
Electronic fashion. The obvious rock-laden riffs carry the typical synth-generated backdrops, and
Sumner's cheeky lyrics are stylish and breezy.
Sumner, who experienced writer's block during the mid-'90s and resorted to Prozac to break his creative blindness, isn't exquisitely sharp or wholly impressive when it comes to being a songwriter. He's simple, and that's what makes
Electronic and his work with his original band so alluring. But it's
Marr's maddening style that carries things along. Songs like "Late at Night" and "Breakdown" fiercely showcase his spiraling guitar loops, not overshadowing
Sumner's storybook visions of love, deceit, passion, and desire. And what makes
Twisted Tenderness so vibrant is how
Electronic placated their lushness for more of a moody demeanor, mysteriously similar to the likes of
U2's electric distortion found on 1997's
Pop. "Make It Happen" is nearly an eight-minute sonic bombast of churning basslines and swirling techno beats, and
Marr's layering is raucous. He is so underrated as a master player, but outlets like
Electronic and his new band the Healers make it easy for him to fully deliver his great skills. "Haze" showcases
Sumner's snarling sauciness, which comes out occasionally, and is darkly wistful. But that's what
New Order/
Smiths fans are looking for.
Electronic don't have to prove that they can write decent pop songs. Their musical brashness is expected, and
Twisted Tenderness is their best yet.
Marr and
Sumner have already laid down the gravel in their previous musical lives --
Electronic is just an extra treat. [Parlaphone released the CD in 1999.] ~ MacKenzie Wilson