Review - The Accused

Colin Vearncombe / The Accused (Gold Circle / Munich Records)

Although Matilde Santing scored a hit not so long ago with "Wonderful life", originally made famous by Black, it's still doubtful if the world has been waiting for a new CD from the man who really is Black but calls himself Colin Vearncombe these days. Pronounce that, deejays!
Some 7 (!) years after Are we having fun yet? Colin still is a performer of melancholy songs, although his music has won some variation thanks to collaborations with other artists.
The single "Sleeper", written with Boo "The Bible" Hewerdine sounds refreshingly optimistic and the song Ghosts, composed with Gary "Danny Wilson" Clark reminds one of The Blue Nile. Most of the time Colin Vearncombe sounds like an acceptable cross between Scott Walker and The Divine Comedy and carries tracks like Yves Klein Blue and Storm cloud Katherine with admirable strength high above the grey average.
Black is dead, but Colin Vearncombe sounds fresh and reborn and has artistic success with The Accused at least.