One might be tempted to think that the recent spate of live shows might mean that Jandek is feeling a little more social and upbeat these days but The Myth of Icicles continues to prove that possibility wrong. Houston's most beleaguered son continues to wallow in depths of suicidal gloom that perhaps only he and he alone will ever achieve in music.
Humor in Jandek continues to be a contentious question that I ask myself - vocal inflections and the occasional lyrical turn of phrase on The Myth of Blue Icicles still belie the possibility of some sort of incredibly dry and fleeting moments of comic self-awareness in the midst of a dark thought.
Acoustic guitars and vocals are the order of the day here, crystal clear and well recorded. As Jandek recordings achieve greater heights of production value, the association with an established avant-garde community continues to grow - the ultimate loner is no longer so much the outsider, what with the quality microphones and the free-improv company he's been keeping on tour lately.
Another fine installment in an endlessly baffling and enchanting ouevre from music most unique and uniquely disturbed voice.
