Grenzwellen-Kritik: Jackie Leven „Creatures Of Light And Darkness“

Album review in the online magazine for the radio programme “Grenzwellen” (archive paths point to radio ffn) (entry of 18.09.2001). The reviewer “Ecki” summarises Leven's path (Doll by Doll, heroin, rebirth with “Mystery of Love” and seven further “invariably moving” albums), ranks him above Nick Cave as a songwriter because he manages without lachrymosity, and calls him “one of the last great storytellers of our time”. He says Leven wrote in his autograph book in 1994 that it never rains in Scotland, which is why the songs are so cheerful. The new album does not quite reach “Fairytales for Hardmen” and “Night Lilies”, but is more convincing than “Defending Ancient Springs”; its centrepiece is the almost ten-minute “Rainy Day Bergen Women” with David Thomas about the death of his father. Below the text: a photo of Leven by Uli Kniep, a link “Jackie Leven Interview” and the dates 30.10. Hamburg Schlachthof and 31.10. Kiel Räucherei.