The World On My Plates (Bonus Track Version)

Originally released in 1982 and later re-released in an expanded edition by LTM in 2006, The World on My Plates was Hermine's EP debut, but this had followed a wayward, often fascinating series of explorations in art and performance, from tightrope walking to performance pieces, as well as a number of singles. A mix of four covers and two original songs from multi-instrumentalist collaborator Ian Kane, the original EP is a skew-whiff piece of arch cabaret — Hermine's speak-singing approach to "The Thrill Is Gone" seems like it could be a lost Dietrich performance — and moody, minimal post-punk styling. Hermine herself is a middling rather than brilliant singer — arguably she's able to coast by on her accent — but she has a good sense of performance for the pieces and rarely seems like she's straining. While the covers are enjoyable, the originals might be the real winners, with "Waiting" showing striking ambition as a well-produced, multi-part effort with everything from church organ keyboards to dramatic strings. As a snapshot of its era, it seems like something that could fit in everywhere from Richard Jobson's spoken word efforts to Antena's first tentative efforts, but heard much later it seems like a strange message beaming from a time when everything was up for grabs. [The expanded edition, besides containing another exhaustive biography from LTM label boss James Nice, adds seven songs that cover Hermine's slightly sporadic singles previous to The World on My Plates. Covers again mix with strong originals, the former including the A-side to her first single, "Torture," first made famous by the Everly Brothers and given a proto art/synth pop run-through here, and a wonderfully silly take on "Born a Woman." As for Hermine's own efforts, the moody "Veiled Women," with its murky, clattering start that settles into an almost romantic groove, and "TV Lovers" are the winners.]