For her first studio album comprised of mostly original material in over a decade,
Faithfull enlisted noted composer
Angelo Badalamenti (who collaborated with
David Lynch for the
Twin Peaks TV soundtrack) to write music for her lyrics and produce.
Faithfull is still in rippingly fine voice, and her words still penetrate. But while
Badalamenti's densely orchestral arrangements can be effectively noirish, they can also create an inappropriately cold and detached ambience, despite standout tracks like "Flaming September" and "She." ~ Richie Unterberger