Following the second coming of its two predecessors – both unexpected given his 2017 solo debut 'How The West Was Won' was Perrett’s first album in almost 30 years whilst his pattern of vanishing from sight was broken by 2019’s follow-up 'Humanworld' – 'The Cleansing' doesn’t only match his best work but expands it: an ambitious double album comprising 20 songs. Lead single and opening track 'I Wanna Go With Dignity' is instant, indefatigable proof: a tight three minutes and 25 seconds laced with Perrett’s deadpan wit and alarming honesty. A new era, then, with a new energy, and a new approach.
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, Fontaines DC’s Carlos O’Connell and Dream Wife guitarist Alice Go. Perrett’s 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 – touching on themes of art, addiction, ageing, social media and witch trials amongst others. “I know some of the subject matter is death, suicide and depression,” Perrett notes, “but I feel there is an uplifting atmosphere to the album, because I’m obviously enjoying recognising what is going on around me.”
“I feel that, the older you get, the more reflective you get,” Perrett says. “I’d always been flippant about the way I approached life, only living in the moment, but then you start to look back at the choices made. I wanted to be more focused about what I wanted to say. I’m still writing about love and the human condition, but perhaps more sentimental, and less abject cynicism, than usual. I also am more focused about the music. Before, I’d put down two guitars, bass and drums, and that was the song: I didn’t give the process much thought. But then we started opening things up.” With 'The Cleansing', the saga of Peter Perrett can finally, and irrefutably, move on from his first coming with The Only Ones, one of the most distinctive and charismatic of all new wave bands with a thrilling live reputation.
'The Cleansing' is notable for Perrett’s observations of the world outside, written from the perspective of a man who realised how much had changed (not least himself). Cleansed, revitalised, survived: one of rock’s great non-conformists is in the form of his life, and one of rock’s great comebacks is primed to keep going.
