Bob Mould, 'Body Of Song'

Wanting both his cake and being able to eat it, Bob Mould’s first full-length album since 2002 succeeds on pretty much every level. As ever, Mould subscribes to the school of thought that says to thine own self be true. His last two solo albums (‘The Last Dog And Pony Show’ and ‘Modulate’) dropped large hints that Mould was becoming tired with the traditional guitar sounds that have punctuated his work over the past 25 years. If ‘TLDAPS’ buried rock (in his mind) for good then ‘Modulate’ must be seen as his venturing out on a voyage labeled ‘this way electronica lies’. Perversely, and entirely in keeping with the man, ‘Body Of Song’ combines both genres with stunning results.

It starts with ‘Circles’ and while the trusty Mould theme of lost love is immediately in place (“I’ve lost my one in a million”), previous feelings of despondency seem to have dissipated. What’s more, a backing band is in evidence (including Fugazi’s drummer Brendan Canty and David Barbe from Mould’s last band Sugar) and their tight arrangements add immeasurably to the mix. In many ways, it feels like Mould has gone full circle; indeed, this opening track feels fresh and enthused, a point not lost on The O.C’s producers who picked it up for inclusion on their third season.

But ‘Body Of Soul’ is about far more than soundtrack worthy ditties. Fans of his sprightly pop sensibilities will swoon over ‘Paralyzed’ (witness the way Mould sounds happy saying “I don’t have a clue how to start”), ‘Best Thing’, and the full of “ooh baby’s” ‘Missing You’. None of these would have appeared out of place on his undoubted classic ‘Copper Blue’ from 1992. A contemplative nature can be detected on ‘Always Tomorrow’ (“Doesn’t matter how much I try…it wouldn’t register anyway”), ‘Days Of Rain’ (now there’s a Husker Du title if ever you read one) and the starkly beautiful ‘High Fidelity, easily the finest track of the decade to include tubular bells. Mould’s increasing interest in DJ culture (check out Blowoff in Washington D.C to see him spin) bear fruit with ‘I Am Vision, I Am Sound’ and the majestic ‘(Shine Your) Light Love Hope’ which is playing in a nightclub as you read this. Mould probably did the remix himself. It’s clear that ‘Body Of Song’ is the sound of a man utterly at ease with himself. “This would be the sound you make looking for some sort of closure”, he sings on ‘Best Thing’ and finally you can hear a sigh of relief for rock’s great survivor and innovator is, for possibly the first time, looking to the future and not the past. Join him on the journey.