Perception In the Heart of Darkness, the Best of Andi Sex Gang

"Heart of Darkness" was a 1970s indie 45-rpm from the great Pere Ubu (found on 1995's Hearpen Singles collection), and as a title for this compilation album perhaps Andi Sex Gang takes that Ubu concept into the new millennium. Musically, Andi presents the other side of the Inventing New Destruction disc, perhaps subconsciously as this is a collection of his solo work; strong melodies and perfectly constructed episodes permeate this lengthy and very satisfying retrospective, making for a handy fan reference package or excellent starting point for those unaccustomed to Sex Gang's musical catalog. Where Inventing New Destruction intentionally annoys, the powerful work here is far more accessible as a "new" release, this collection of past music put into circulation simultaneously with the New Destruction CD. "The Naked and the Dead" — one of two tracks from the film Creepers — and the sweeping "Power Waits" are just two examples of the easier musical access on this disc, though "Power Waits"' vague request and pensive vocal can drain the listener's energy over repeated spins. The musical journey here is comprised of 20 selections and about 76 minutes of music, including a 1983 guest appearance by Marc Almond of Soft Cell, who helps out on "The Hungry Years," absolutely not the Neil Sedaka track from the '70s. The influence is more Marilyn Manson, who certainly had an impact on some of Andi Sex Gang's solo work — which the final track, "The Last of England," displays so well. There's a semi a cappella Procol Harum-ish reading of Marianne Faithfull's "Go Away from My World" along with a techno reworking of the Faithfull/Rolling Stones classic "As Tears Go By," which is a real curve ball on this very complex but intriguing work. The bonus DVD contains four tracks that clock in at around 15 minutes, including an artsy goth/pop "Waiting for the Assassin," two versions of a James Bond-ish "7 Ways to Kill a Man," and a flashy and compelling "Assassin Years." Just from the titles you get a clue of where Andi is going with the video theme on each of the three songs. Both discs make for a fine overview of Andi Sex Gang apart from the Sex Gang Children.