As other reviewers have said, Soul Murder is nothing if not a bizarre piece of work. Those familiar with Barry Adamson already know to expect the unexpected, but those new to his work may find this jarring indeed, especially since the project only starts to get some traction with a faux-newscast report of a lynching.
Soul Murder starts out a little weak and disjointed, but the listeners ears perk up with the gruesome lynching report on A Gentle Man of Colour. And except for the opening monologue, an interlude entitled A Trance of Hatred, and the Epilogue that's all there is of the bizarre. The remainder of the CD following A Trance of Hatred is a delicious pastiche of jazz, soul, and Adamson's trademark "movie music" style, much of which is so relaxing it serves as an antidote to the disquieting Gentle Man of Colour.
Though this CD is not for everyone, I find that most listeners open up to it once they get past the lynching episode.
In addition to A Gentle Man of Colour, I most enjoy the Violation of Expectation, Checkpoint Charlie, Cool Green World, and On The Edge of Atonement.
With Soul Murder, Barry Adamson once again bares his incredible talents and serves up another strange brew for his fans to ponder. Get this one while its still available.