Vera Causa

Coming off a rough period of personal loss and creative strain after 1999's Evidence of Heaven, William Faith and Monica Richards return to the world that's made them one of the most cherished acts within the goth rock circuit. They're not exclusively goth rock, for their appreciation of neo-classical, folk, and worldbeat compositions also casts a fervor into their own experimental work. Vera Causa celebrates their expansive love for such music, highlighting covers, remixes, outtakes, and live tracks. Faith and the Muse give back to the fans. Disc one offers acoustic and demo cuts along with exquisite cover selections from some of Faith and the Muse's favorite artists. The Chameleons UK's "Soul of Isolation," performed by Faith, glows in slight darkwave ambience while his guitar work is intricately sharp, cusping his dark brood and a roaring chorus. Richards' vocalic beauty on Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" shutters into a clamoring mix of hard percussion and gnawing guitars. It's far more abrasive and wounded compared to Bush's theatrical take, but equally chilling. And the musical mayhem continues, particularly on the Christian Death cover, "Romeo's Distress." Faith and the Muse were extremely saddened by Rozz Williams' suicide in 1998, and their live rendition of Williams' cult classic is both angelic and afflicted. Richards scowls, "What's that moving in the basement?/What's that moving in the attic?/Who's that lying on the alter?/Who's that lying in the street?" — and it's campy and glossy. Glam rock aesthetics mix inside Christian Death's heavy metal obscurity, and Faith and the Muse do an amazing job.

Disc two showcases some of the band's savored moments from 2000's Evidence of Heaven tour. "Cantus" and "Scars Flown Proud" are both blissfully chaotic over conflicted guitars and percussion. Richards and Faith possess something more enchanting as a live act, and their energy is moving. Richards' choirgirl hearkening is similar to the brashness of Siouxsie Sioux, and such flare continues to make Faith and the Muse's popularity cross over into the areas of underground rock and industrial dance. The remixes also spotlight Faith and the Muse's new musical tweaking. "The Silver Circle [Gears and Teeth Mix]" and "Mercyground [Rhea's Obsession Mix]" focus more on instrumental distress rather than Richards' singing, whereas "Shattered in Aspect [BassX_RmX]" teases Richards inside hypnotic trance loops for a divine club/dance spin. Vera Causa is an exciting piece of work. It's not a greatest-hits collection, which is quite refreshing. Faith and the Muse relish in their past and are confident in where their music is headed. Vera Causa fits inside that notion.