Bob Mould
The former guitarist, vocalist and composer of Hüsker Dü, Mould surprised many of that leading hardcore act's aficionados with his reflective solo debut, WORKBOOK. Only one track, Whichever Way The Wind Blows, offered the maelstrom of guitars customary in the artist's work and instead the set was marked by a predominantly acoustic atmosphere. Cellist Jane Scarpantoni contributed to its air of melancholy, while Tony Maimone (bass) and Anton Fier (drums), two members of Pere Ubu, added sympathetic support, helping to emphasize the gift for melody always apparent in Mould's work. Maimone and Fier also provided notable support on BLACK SHEETS OF RAIN which marked a return to the uncompromising power of the guitarist's erstwhile unit. The set included the harrowing Hanging Tree and apocalyptical Sacrifice Sacrifice/Let There Be Peace, but contrasted such doom-laden material with a brace of sprightly pop songs in It's Too Late and Hear Me Calling, both of which echo R.E.M.. Mould's continued commitment to superior music bodes well for his future career.