Tenement Symphony

Grand to the point of almost being grandiose — then again, what would one expect with an album that featured producer Trevor Horn on it on some cuts — Tenement Symphony is a sometimes strange but often compelling album that has some of Marc Almond’s warmest performances on it. Unsurprisingly his ear for covers takes a pride of place — his dual Jacques Brel/Scott Walker tribute “Jacky” is a romp, while the version of “The Days of Pearly Spencer” became a solid UK hit — but originals like “Champagne” and “Beautiful Brutal Thing” show his own skill at work.