Spiritual Front - The Queen Is Not Dead (Deluxe Edition) (2023)

from:


ARTIST.... Spiritual Front
TITLE....... The Queen Is Not Dead (Deluxe Edition)
STYLE...... Darkfolk, Neofolk
LABEL
...... Auerbach Tontrager / Prophecy Productions
QUALITY.... 320kbps / Joint-Stereo
COUNTRY... Italy​
full
"The Queen Is Not Dead" is not your average SPIRITUAL FRONT album, but then again, nothing about the Italian suicidal pop outfit has ever been lukewarm or middle of the road anyway. In fact the eighth studio full-length from the Romans is "a homage to Morrissey's and Johnny Marr's legendary hymns of unquestionable beauty", according to Simone Salvatori. The band's founder and frontman claims THE SMITHS as a major musical inspiration for every member of SPIRITUAL FRONT. The Italians recorded the album with the explicit aim to pay a respectful homage yet at the same time to stay away from cloning. Across fifteen cover tracks, which many consider sacred, the Italians stayed true to the original recordings, while pulling those songs closer to the sonic world of SPIRITUAL FRONT for example by adding strings and horn parts. Salvatori and his fellow band members, guitarist Francesco Conte and Andrea Freda on drums, are joined by bass player Daniele Raggi, a string sextet and a horn player as well as a plethora of contributions by friends, among others including vocalist Durga McBroom (PINK FLOYD, BLUE PEARL), Riccardo Galati, Filippo Marcheggiani (BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO), Michal Stepien (MGŁA), Jairo Zavala (CALEXICO), King Dude, Traci Danielle (MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT), Riccardo Spilli (IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO) and Sasha Boole (ME AND THAT MAN). Formed in 1999 as the solo project of Salvatori, SPIRITUAL FRONT have since released numerous full-length albums, singles, EPs and collaborations. The Italians describe their sound as "catchy ballads for heartbreaker nihilist youth". Lyrically, SPIRITUAL FRONT have dealt with themes such as searching for self-identity, sexuality, harsh realities and angry break-ups, which are often tinted with sarcasm, nihilism, and a biting sense of humour. Furthermore, the Italians have collaborated with renowned artists such as LYDIA LUNCH, ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO, and many others, while also contributing to the soundtracks of the TV series "Las Vegas" and the motion picture "Saw 2" as well as further independent films, theatre productions, and modern ballet. SPIRITUAL FRONT are paying a heartfelt tribute to THE SMITHS, who have accidentally composed the soundtrack of their lives, forever bonding their greatest emotions to notes and words.

Tracklist:
1. Still Ill (3:23)
2. Ask (3:25)
3. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (4:04)
4. How Soon Is Now (4:56)
5. This Charming Man (2:45)
6. Girl Afraid (2:46)
7. Panic (2:36)
8. Bigmouth Strikes Again (3:20)
9. Girlfriend In A Coma (2:02)
10. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (3:21)
11. Barbarism Begins At Home (3:52)
12. What Difference Does It Make (3:50)
13. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want (1:49)
14. Shoplifters Of The World Unite (3:03)
15. The Queen Is Dead (4:14)
16. The Queen Is Dead (Orchestral Version) (2:41)
17. Ask (Acoustic Alt. Version) (3:11)
18. Bigmouth Strikes Again (Acoustic Alt. Version) (3:01)
19. What Difference Does It Make (Orchestral Version) (2:38)
20. Barbarism Begins At Home (Strings Version) (3:21)
21. Shoplifters Of The World Unite (Acoustic Alt. Version) (3:00)
22. Girl Afraid (Main Theme) (1:30)
23. Panic (Acoustic Alt. Version) (2:31)
24. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Acoustic Alt. Version) (3:59)
25. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (Epilogue) (1:36)
26. How Soon Is Now (Recorded Live In The Etruscan Tomb) (3:27)​



Also on streaming services.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'd prefer to see a radically reworked synth soaked Kraftwerkian version or something that changes the dimensions of the original.
Bizarrely, Tiffany's cover of 'Panic' has a very Kraftwerkian vibe, and is, actually(whisper it) very good indeed. I'm sure it's one of the omens of the apocalypse when you start liking Tiffany covering The Smiths:smilingimp::smirk:
 
Bizarrely, Tiffany's cover of 'Panic' has a very Kraftwerkian vibe, and is, actually(whisper it) very good indeed. I'm sure it's one of the omens of the apocalypse when you start liking Tiffany covering The Smiths:smilingimp::smirk:


Brilliant cover! The best one I’ve heard so far. Could be used in a Chanel perfume commercial. Absolutely stunning!
 
Brilliant thanks. I love David Byrnes version of The Model but disagree completely with him saying the Kraftwerk version is cold and emotionless. Kraftwerk had melody and emotion and warmth in abundance. The perpetuated myth that synth music is cold and sterile couldn't be more inaccurate and lazy.

The music of artists like Kraftwerk, New Order, Blancmange, Vangelis, Neil Arthur, Isao Tomita, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan etc. is warm and full of emotion and melody. I'm veering off topic if I neglected to mention that Moz (and possibly Marr) in the early Smiths days mentioned how they hated synth music composed in a sterile bedroom. I forget the exact quote but I assume Marr came to regret or disagree with that sentiment.

Not sure if there's much emotion in Kraftwork's music but I all i know are the hits. I first heard them in 1975 on Tomorrow's World.
 
Last edited:

Trending Threads

Back
Top Bottom