Bass, drums, two guitars, a pair of wind instruments and his voice, Lou Reed doesn't need more on the follow-up to 1996's disappointing "Set the twilight reeling". The rock 'n' roll veteran goes back to "Ecstasy" the clear, dry sound of his 1989 classic "New York". Reed alternates nice rocking pistils with calmer, more contemplative songs. He does this at a consistently high level both compositionally
… and lyrically. Only the somewhat boring ballad "Turning time around" and the eighteen minute long "Like a possum" are out of place. His girlfriend Laurie Anderson plays the electric violin on the songs "Rock minuet" and "Rouge". (W.vd.Z.) _more
