The Mission – Masque album review

She brings me colours, white wine and roses
And then we paint our faces and powder our noses
She gives me her halo and i hang it next to mine
Reads to me mishima like a honeymoon valentine
She’s an architect of pleasure and she fashions me a fountain
She leads me through the clouds to the peak of the highest mountain

Lyrics about love and passion.  Aaaahhh l’amour.  What’s the world without l’amour?  Are these lyrics from a horny Michael Bolton or from a romantic Enrique Iglesias? They are lyrics from Mission’s album Masque.  Obviously you were not expecting these kind of lyrics from an underground Gothic – Rock band.  It is like one of the greatest sport car manufacturers, Ferrari produce a diesel engine.  How on earth can this be?

Well, although the lyrics above give a hint that most of the band members were lost in love while writing this album, for sure it wasn’t an easy ride for them.  It was a roller coaster of ups and downs.  Most of the lyrics still deal with religious criticism and the dark side of love.

The Mission (a band formed in 1986 from some members of the freshly dissolved band Sisters of Mercy) released the Masque in 1992.  For a change, this album was slammed by critics because of the different musical direction the band followed.  The album cannot exactly be classified as Gothic music.  It is more of an exotic and contemporary composition of electronics, dance rhythms and experimental pop music.

The album starts with “Never Again” and “Shades of Green (Part ll)”, which most probably are the only two tracks with the band’s dance / rock sound.  Next three tracks “Even you may shine”, “Trial of Scarlet” and “Spider and the Fly” have a more of a U2-ish “Achtung Baby..” sound, which was released just a year before. The next four tracks “She Conjures me Wings”, “Sticks and Stones”, “Like a Child Again” and “Who will love me tomorrow” are all the lovey dovey and jolly tracks.  Most of the songs resemble to most of the Cure’s love songs, but still with a unique sound.

The last three tracks, “You make me breath”, “From one Jesus to another” and “Until there’s another sunshine” couldn’t fit any better as closing tracks for a great album.  Three slow, shall I say “ballads” accompanied by cheerless vocals.  If you like gothic music, I suggest you give this album a try.  It is not exactly gothic, but some good experimental material coming from a great gothic band!