Varieté (album)

Background

Varieté marks Almond's 30th year as a recording artist. It is his first album of original material in nine years. At the time of its release, Almond himself stated it would be his final album of original material as he had increasingly become more interested in recording pre-existing songs (as many of his covers albums have showcased), but this would prove to be untrue and he went on to record further original material afterwards. An article in the Daily Mail calls the album "a suite of reflective tracks that add up to a personal record of his picaresque life." Much of it is self-produced and co-written with longtime collaborators Neal Whitmore and Martin Watkins.

The album was released in a standard one-disc jewel case and a limited edition two-disc digipak in a slip-sleeve version, featuring seven bonus tracks on the second disc.

Critical reception

Varieté received mixed reviews from critics. The Guardian describes a "nostalgic mood" but sees the album as "furrows already ploughed". The Daily Telegraph writes about Almond's lyrics stating that "his lyrical pen remains hilariously barbed" and calls the album "self-composed cabaret sleaze". The review in The Scotsman agrees that Almond is looking back with this album, returning "to old themes with alacrity" and summarises by calling Varieté "mischievous, lightweight fun compared to Almond's darker, more tortured journeys into European chanson". Simon Price in his review from The Independent calls the album "an autobiography and also a hymn to the underground" and states that Almond "is determined to squeeze life for its every last drop". The AllMusic review praises the production as flowing "freely from spare, late-night-in-the-cocktail-lounge settings to big, bold, orchestral statements". It also has further commentary on the bonus tracks available with the limited edition version of the album, stating that the "more minimal, acoustic-based" songs shine "a brighter light on Almond's songwriting abilities".

Track listing

1. "(Intro)" (Marc Almond, Michael Cashmore) –0:42
2. "Bread & Circus" (Almond, Alexei Fedorov) –3:47
3. "Nijinsky Heart" (Almond, Roland Faber) –3:59
4. "The Exhibitionist" (Almond, Martin Watkins) –4:44
5. "The Trials of Eyeliner" (Almond, Michael Cashmore) –5:44
6. "Lavender" (Almond, Watkins) –5:25
7. "Soho So Long" (Almond, Fedorov, Neal Whitmore) –3:37
8. "Unloveable" (Almond, Faber) –2:47
9. "Sandboy" (Almond, Watkins) –4:41
10. "It’s All Going On" (Almond, Faber) –4:32
11. "Variety" (Almond, Faber) –3:31
12. "Cabaret Clown" (Almond) –3:09
13. "My Madness and I" (Almond, Whitmore) –4:34
14. "But Not Today" (Almond, Whitmore) –4:29
15. "Swan Song" (Almond, Whitmore) –3:41
16. "Sin Song" (Almond, Cashmore) –7:03

13. "My Evil Twin" (Almond, Faber) – 3:13
14. "A Lonely Love" (Almond) – 3:35
15. "Cat Dancer" (Almond, Whitmore) – 2:23
16. "Criminal Lover" (Almond, Whitmore) – 3:17
17. "I Am No One" (Almond, Whitmore) – 2:35
18. "Smoke" (Almond, Whitmore) – 3:11
19. "Kiss the Ghost (Goodbye)" (Almond) – 4:45

Personnel