Screaming

Brittle Siren
Review

From CCM

Michael Knott Screaming Brittle Siren Blonde Vinyl On "Screaming Brittle Siren", Michael Knott steps beyond his role as bandleader of L.S.U. amd Lifesavers to make a purely personal statment. That both of these projects appear to arise from the angst of inner turmoil, suggests that Knott, like other artists of this ilk, createshis deepest and fully realized musical statements from the struggle of existence and the disappointments that come when ideals runhead on into reality. "I've got blood on my hands, I've got hate in my heart," wails Knott in heart-rending emotional confession, after songs like "Miles from Shame," "Crash and Burn," "Apocolypse Lips," and "Brittle Body" have painted a picture of the temptations of the age. "Hang Me High," and "Draw the Line" are the beginnings of a cry for deliverence from self-destuctive patterns. "I'm no Christ," is perhaps the most honest statement of the battle between flesh and spirit of the believer, in this case a Christian Artist and minister that I've heard on record. "What you Know Now," hung on a familiar guitar hook, invites us to look beyond the "Lair," who's a profiteering "God vendor" to the truth of God's mercy, rather than be distracted by the outward disillusionment. And, "Shine A Light" concludes that we broken humans must still share what we know of Christ, the thing that gives us any meaning at all. "I'm no Captian, just a reflection of the sea." To match these ragged, raging laments, Knott has created music as tense and angular as his words. Jagged guitars, brittle strings, and sching vocals make "Screaming Brittle Siren" a physical expression of it's very title. In the path of David Bowie and David Ferry's punk followers-Bauhaus, Echo and the Bunnymenadn Psychedelic Furs-Knott has carved out his own niche and proven his talent again in stricly musical terms, while seeking to speak with the complete candor of his own weakness before the cross of Christ. In such weakness, scripture teaches us, there is strength

bAck tO thE vInEyArd