It’s been nearly four years since we heard from Antony and the Johnsons. In between studio visits we heard him mix it up with the disco sounds of Hercules and Love Affair, which was a great opportunity to hear his voice go from torch song to dance track.

On the new album there is no sign of his disco flirt; the themes are far from fun. The Crying Light feels like it has stepped up from the cabaret style of Antony delivering his personal songs from behind his piano, accompanied by the Johnsons. The arrangements on this album feel much bigger; with an orchestra used on most of the tracks, the album has an almost theatrical feel. Whereas the last album sounds like it was performed in a New York basement bar full of poets, this one sounds like it could be a night at the opera with the Upper West Side set. The music and arrangements really have matured and grown. Lyrically, it feels he is dealing with narratives rather than just personal anguish. Stand-out tracks are the haunting title track ‘Crying Light’ and the percussive-driven ‘Kiss My Name’.