Based on French author Michel Houellebecq’s 2005 novel “The Possibility of an Island,” Preliminaires is the latest offering from the godfather of punk, Iggy Pop. Those looking for a Stooges-esque affair should look elsewhere however, because Pop has taken an altogether different route this time. Starting off as music for a film about Houellebecq’s life, Pop was reportedly so moved by what he was coming up with that the project evolved into a brand new album that allows the listener to hear the collision of the written and sung word with an unusual elegance.
If I had to sum up Preliminaires in word it would certainly be “moody.” Much like a Depeche Mode or Patricia Vonne album, Preliminaires is unconcerned with categorization yet somehow manages to pull together into a cohesive unit by some miracle of nature that doesn’t work on paper. From the country-tinged “Je Sais Que Tu Sais” to the bouncy,
almost tribal, “She’s a Business” to the Crash Test Dummies-esque “I Want to Go to the Beach,” this album defies logic at every turn, baffling the listener more and more with each new song but also pulling them down the rabbit hole. The highlight here for Pop fans will certainly be the album’s only really straightforward, maybe even familiar sounding, “Nice to Be Dead,” which is a great moment in Iggy Pop’s career in addition to being a high point on the album. It’s a great song that will stick with you for a good long time.
Overall, this album boasts many moods and many styles of music. It all sounds primal and real though and that is the most important similarity to Pop’s other works. Don’t expect wild antics and irreverent lyrics (okay, there’s a few of those here), just expect an interesting and often dark ride and you won’t be disappointed. While I wouldn’t call this my favorite Iggy Pop related work, it’s a lot more interesting than his usual fare. It grows on you more and more with each new listen.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
