{"product_id":"whiplash-boychild-1","title":"Whiplash Boychild","description":"Personnel includes: Chris Connelly, Jessica Villines, William Rieflin, Stuart Zechman.\u003cbr\u003eProducers: Chris Connelly, Keith Auerbach, Jessica Villnes, William Rieflin, Stuart Zechman.\u003cbr\u003eWith his reputation as a neo-industrial shouter long since established, Connelly went a long way toward completely confounding all expectations of him with Whiplash Boychild, a commanding and often quite surprising solo effort of equal power and delicacy. The opening track, \"Daredevil,\" sets the pace. Connelly's commanding, Bowie-like croon -- delivering either a sourly romantic lyric couched in political terms, or vice versa -- soars out over an arty groove, making for a fine start. Calling Boychild Connelly's cabaret album wouldn't be that far off the mark, especially given his vocal-and-piano cover of cult crooner Scott Walker's \"The Amorous Humphrey Plugg.\" Compared with Marc Almond's splashy theatrics, Connelly is a little more abstract and restrained, approaching his material with a certain calm. Occasionally the music is extremely avant-garde: \"Ghost of a Saint\" consists of a curious rhythm loop and violin, while \"Confessions of the Highest Bidder\" is nearly ten minutes of static, white noise, and unintelligible vocal samples. Things are mostly straightforward, though: from the clean, forceful pound of \"This Edge of Midnight\" and the elegant, dancefloor-pitched lead single, \"Stowaway,\" to the minimal keyboard-and-atmospherics of \"The Last of Joy\" and \"The Hawk, the Butcher, the Killer of Beauties.\" Connelly's studio band discharges its duties well -- especially the rhythm section of bassist Stuart Zechman and drummer William Rieflin -- while the production is remarkably clear, without ever being sterile or losing the impact of the music. Add to that the occasional off-kilter sample from unknown Spanish or French sources, and Whiplash Boychild makes for a fine solo debut. ~ Ned Raggett","brand":"MovieMars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52990296555807,"sku":"016581713420","price":11.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/7833\/0399\/files\/b65cf4c49d5b559dfce93aa279b6a696.jpg?v=1791319825","url":"https:\/\/www.moviemars.com\/products\/whiplash-boychild-1","provider":"MovieMars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}