Apparently semi-autobiographical, 'Damaris' is a tale of heartbreak and lost loves. And with lyrics conjuring up images of lone figures on bleak and windswept landscapes, Patrick Wolf definitely had a solid base from which to tell the story of the man buried under a small wooden cross.
But unfortunately, all the heart-rending adjectives in the world cannot rescue the end product, which has been rendered lifeless by over-production. And so you are left cold and indifferent to the narrator's cries for lost love.
Despite having recorded the organ and drumline within a church, the natural acoustics are hidden by an overly legato string track. Whilst this thick texture undoubtedly gives a sense of grandeur to the overall product, the cleanliness of the sound completely destroys the haunting church acoustics.
Above this Wolf's repeated cries of "Goddamned Damaris" seem fake, lacking the raw emotion and unrelenting energy of his peers. Like someone condemned to repeat the same routine day in day out, his vocals seem solely to be going through the motions, waiting for the track to finally come to an end.
As a result the whole track flows through you without leaving the slightest trace that it was ever there. It's musically pleasing but the tale of 'Damaris' could have achieved so much more.
Rating: 3/5