Iggy Pop - Préliminaires [Album]

EMI / Astralwerks

May 6, 2009, 03:37 PM

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Considering the sheer length of Iggy Pop’s career in the music without a fall from grace, still rightfully earning the respect of even the most arrogant of modern mockstars, the title of his new long player ‘Préliminaires’ ironically translates as ‘Foreplay’. After having spent almost 50 years at the top of your game, it seems a little late for foreplay. It perhaps should be called ‘Penétration’ but what do I know? In reality though, the album’s title is inspired by the 2005 novel ‘The Possibility of an Island’ by French author Michel Houellebecq, on which Iggy says that he read

He always was a bit nuts, but that’s probably why he’s the godfather of punk – not the Sex Pistols (he arguably pioneered stage diving – there is no argument here). He continues to describe ‘The Possibility of an Island’s themes of “sex, the end of the human race, and some other pretty funny stuff” – all of which seems like typical traits of a record from Iggy Pop.

I feel that due to the very reason of ‘Préliminaires’ existence and my utmost respect for Iggy Pop (perhaps more than for any other in popular music’s history), it would be unthinkable to review and to form an opinion on this album without considering the book. Although I have not yet read it (I strongly intend to however) listening to 'Préliminaires’ does an excellent job of painting a picture in one’s head of French life tinged with coo,l if slightly sleazy, undertones. I suppose that the ideal way to enjoy Préliminaires would naturally to have read ‘The Possibility of an Island’ but realistically, I did not have the time to do so, so am therefore prepared to give Iggy a little more freedom than I might have done otherwise, as I am not qualified to judge his motives and inspirations.

However, all that I can say is that first listening to Préliminaires brought a massive shock to me; despite having erased any preconceptions or expectations that I had had musically about Iggy, it still didn’t fail to surprise and impress due to the sheer contrast to his previous works. Punk fans won’t like Préliminaires (a pretty safe statement I hope), but Iggy pop fans certainly will because of the nature of his lyrics and trademark delivery that occasionally reminisces of Johhny Cash (‘Les Feuilles Mortes’, ‘I Want To Go To The Beach’) but this comparison is inevitable with voices as unusually low as theirs.

The great thing about Préliminaires is that after the first few tracks, one begins to feel comfortable with the timbre and ‘genre’ of the record, but it then offers something new and exciting; managing to flow smoothly in the process despite arguments why it technically shouldn’t – it just makes sense as a great album. Tracks like ‘Party Time’ defy the initial acoustic theme of the record with a hint of electronic influence whereas ‘Nice To Be Dead’ wanders away from the typically 1940s jazz instrumentation of ‘King Of The Dogs’ with its cliché Iggy Pop rock n’ roll finale. Then, when you think that you have Préliminaires figured out, ‘Hes Dead/Shes Alive’ sees Iggy revert back to his roots with a beautifully soulful bluesy jam on a rickety sounding acoustic guitar that has a natural and improvised feel about it – in my opinion, the way the blues is meant to be. The spoken word magic of ‘A Machine For Loving’ leaves the listener feeling enlightened about the theme of the record, although I still can’t explain it to you myself. It creates a disturbingly eerie atmosphere that at the time of listening drags one in and loses all rationality and sense.

In all, and to put it straight, Préliminaires is surely one of the most awe-inspiring and impressive albums that I have ever heard and despite his success with The Stooges and those ‘Swiftcover’ TV adverts, possibly a new career highlight. Beautifully composed, expertly delivered and perfectly sincere, Préliminaires is a must for any credible music fan that prefers artist sincerity over marketable commercialism. That said, why are we surprised – what else could we expect from the genuinely authentic legend that is Iggy Pop?

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