Hercules And Love Affair, Hercules And Love Affair (DFA/EMI) **

2:34pm Friday 21st March 2008

Antony and The Johnsons's gig at York's Grand Opera House was not the most joyful of affairs, but undoubtedly showcased a unique talent for exploring new depths of introspective depression.

Obviously a complex chameleon character, Mr Hegarty's latest project is this collaboration with DJ supremo Andrew Butler and his cohorts Nomi and Kim Ann, under the pseudonym of Hercules And Love Affair.

You find yourself racking the memory to recall which Eighties' electro single has been aped on Free, Blind, Athene and subsequent tracks. Yazoo, New Order, Depeche Mode, A Flock Of Seagulls, Kid Creole, Squeeze and Ian Dury's Blockhead's Reason To Be Cheerful (Pt 3) spring to mind. But don't expect Hercules And Love Affair to cheer you up this wintry Easter. I magine Joy Division on tranquilisers and you're half-way there. Artistically, Hegarty has stretched his usual boundaries, but few will enjoy this gloomy dirge.