The Last Love Song

The Last Love Story by Dublin musicians Torc is the first to feature new vocalist Gonca Basak. It’s an ambitious, though flawed, release that sees the trio stretch their sound further than ever before. Incorporating elements of jazz, trip-hop and soul, the record is a smoky, salacious collection of twisted threnodies that calls to mind Portishead’s ghostly shuffles (‘Strange Creatures,’ ‘Grace’). Thus, though they never quite reach the sheer genius of the aforementioned Bristol band’s debut, the likes of ‘Rhapsody In Black & Blue’ are kinda special. Immaculately production notwithstanding, the odd vocal wobble (especially on ‘Illium’) ultimately hampers the overall impact, and turns what had promised to be an interesting album into one that leaves this listener curiously dissatisfied.