Underrated, rather subtle.
Eitzel covers a diverse range of classic songs in a typically imaginative manner. What you're left with is a rather leftfield, alternative take on each piece. Initially, the synths and samples sound rather crude and indeed... cheap. However, this 'seediness' warms with repeated listens, and becomes part of the record's charm. Mark delivers a skillful, understated vocal performance, holding back from his usual gut-wrenching emotional wail. His whispered delivery works perfectly - simultaneously adding to the late-night, quietly sinister feel of each piece while avoiding the pitfall of overwhelming the song's subtle instrumentation. Released shortly after The Invisible Man, I'd initially written Music For Courage And Confidence off as a cheap covers cash-in. 7 years later, I listen to this far more often than The Invisible Man. To summarise, this record seems to be ageing gracefully and may be worth a revisit.
