Rufus Wainwright - 'Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets'

6/10

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Rufus Wainwright returns with possibly his most ambitious project to date. Collaborating with a whole host of famous names including Carrie Fisher, William Shatner, Florence Welch and even his sister Martha Wainwright, 'Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets' aims to combine the lyrical poetry of William Shakespeare's sonnets and put them against a backdrop of atmospheric compositions.

Though all the sonnets are spoken word verbatim, it is in the music where we get to see Wainwright's influence. Shakespeare and music has never been a natural fit as the writer never pursued that path so the avenue to create a new soundtrack to his work is almost limitless, and it seems Wainwright understands this very well. Cutting up the sonnets with a whole host of musical directions that include opera, rock and even his own whimsical experimentation, 'Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets' makes for a diverse but not altogether easy to listen to release.

The main problem with this dynamic is it's too surprising for its own good. Just when you think you've got a handle on it, it moves at such a tangent, it almost becomes jarring. Individually, each work is brilliant but bring it all together, and it's a little too messy.

More Reviews

NEW MUSIC DISCOVERY - 28.08.17
6 years 7 months ago

Juliana Strangelove - 'To Amsterdam'

Filthy Friends - 'Invitation'
6 years 7 months ago

6/10

NEW MUSIC DISCOVERY - 25.08.17
6 years 7 months ago

Alec Lehrman - 'Pedal' RnB-funk hybrid with one killer guitar solo

Queens Of The Stone Age - 'Villians'
6 years 7 months ago

9/10

Gogol Bordello - 'Seekers And Finders'
6 years 7 months ago

6/10

NEW MUSIC DISCOVERY - 24.08.17
6 years 7 months ago

Jailbox - 'A Fork Inside'

Wildwood Kin - 'Turning Tides'
6 years 7 months ago

6/10