Peter Perrett – The Cleansing (2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

The Cleansing doesn’t only match Peter Perrett’s best work but expands it: an ambitious double album comprising 20 songs, with his uniquely narcotic and alluring melodies, gorgeous South London drawl and ravishing rock dynamic now allied to a wider span of musical arrangements and lyrical concerns. Alongside his trusted team of sons Jamie (guitar / production) and Peter Jr (bass) plus members of his live band, Perrett is assisted by a roster of starry guests including Johnny Marr, Bobby Gillespie and Fontaines DC’s Carlos O’Connell.

Peter Perrett is best known for The Only Ones’ 1978 punk hit “Another Girl, Another Planet,” whose lyrics memorably use love as a metaphor for dependency while resting on a catchy guitar foundation that obscures their dark message. While it’s his biggest hit, the song’s steady drive is atypical of Perrett’s broader songwriting, which usually balances this energy with dynamic, evolving arrangements that more deeply align with his lyrics. The personal struggles documented in “Another Girl” sadly explain the long gaps in Perrett’s career, so his consistent output over the last eight years has been exciting.

Perrett’s voice remains instantly recognizable on The Cleansing, a double album that showcases both his dynamic writing style and deadpan delivery. “Art is a Disease” especially captures this contrast. “Art is a disease that marks the afflicted,” Perrett arrestingly repeats along with references to Arctic exploration and a passing mention of addiction. The exaggerated chorus effect that opens the song recalls goth and new wave trends of the early-’80s and a loud, aggressive section in the middle creates a drastic shift while referencing the Only Ones’ punk elements. Throughout The Cleansing’s twenty tracks, which feature guest appearances from Johnny Marr, Bobby Gillespie and members of Fontaines D.C., driving electric songs like opener “I Wanna Go With Dignity” are balanced with gentler ones like the acoustic-guitar led “Solitary Confinement.” And Perrett’s stylized punk songwriting remains present even on more straightforward songs like the title track, which subtly emphasizes this approach. – Steve Silverstein

Tracklist:
1-1. Peter Perrett – I Wanna Go With Dignity (03:24)
1-2. Peter Perrett – Disinfectant (04:26)
1-3. Peter Perrett – Fountain Of You (04:33)
1-4. Peter Perrett – Secret Taliban Wife (03:09)
1-5. Peter Perrett – Solitary Confinement (03:16)
1-6. Peter Perrett – Women Gone Bad (02:21)
1-7. Peter Perrett – Survival Mode (05:07)
1-8. Peter Perrett – Mixed Up Confucius (03:20)
1-9. Peter Perrett – Do Not Resuscitate (02:37)
1-10. Peter Perrett – The Cleansing (03:26)
1-11. Peter Perrett – All That Time (04:15)
1-12. Peter Perrett – Kill A Franco Spy (02:32)
1-13. Peter Perrett – Set The House On Fire (03:05)
1-14. Peter Perrett – Feast For Sore Eyes (02:55)
1-15. Peter Perrett – There For You (02:55)
1-16. Peter Perrett – Art Is A Disease (03:28)
1-17. Peter Perrett – World In Chains (03:14)
1-18. Peter Perrett – Back In The Hole (03:24)
1-19. Peter Perrett – Less Than Nothing (02:44)
1-20. Peter Perrett – Crystal Clear (03:28)