0562. Ute Lemper
Punishing Kiss

The thought "The German Björk?" do pop up, but after a while, as the songs change format, I'd say Ute Lemper's more like the German Lars Demian (not only because of the Brecht-songs) - decadent and dramatic.

It's a collection of covers by everyone from Scott Walker to Tom Waits and Kurt Weil (whom she'd already made a name for herself interpreting). And it's an interesting album, and even though I don't always fancy her vocal style, Ute mostly puts on a good show, singing the heck out of the songs.

This collaboration with The Divine Comedy (who act as backup band) is by far better than their own album, proving that Neil Hannon shouldn't be center stage all the time, but instead makes a pretty good wing man.