Two of Diamonds

Mick Harvey's fourth solo outing, TWO OF DIAMONDS, finds the former Bad Seed mining similar noir ideas as on his previous projects, but building on them with gorgeous orchestrations and patient tempos. His baritone--could a Nick Cave co-conspirator have anything else?--resonates beautifully in the arrangements that unfold meticulously and cinematically throughout the album's 12 tracks. The song cycle also boasts appearances by fellow Bad Seed James Johnston on organ and guitar, and Rob Ellis from P.J. Harvey's band on piano and drums.