Soulsavers

If Mark Lanegan hasn’t received the critical acclaim he has always deserved, his peers certainly know how to pay tribute to his talent by putting it to good use. Following last year’s spectacular collaboration with Isobel Campbell, Ballad Of The Broken Seas, UK production duo Rich Machin and Ian Glover put Lanegan front and centre in this brooding electronica/gospel project. While It’s Not How You Fall may tilt towards the electronica side more than Lanegan die-hards might prefer, the themes of the songs are perfectly suited for a guy who more than anyone seems prepared to step into Johnny Cash’s black boots. Lanegan gets co-writing credit on half the album, with "Revival” striking the proper opening note on a grand scale. And aside from an overwrought remake of "Kingdoms Of Rain” from Lanegan’s essential solo album, Whiskey For The Holy Ghost, covers of Neil Young’s "Through My Sails” and the Stones’ "No Expectations” hang in gorgeous suspended animation. Lanegan’s own phantom-like presence throughout the album is slightly disturbing but It’s Not How You Fall is another example of his wide range, and a worthy addition to his catalogue.