A surprising team-up at the time of its release (1975),
Desperate Straights
is a surprisingly melodic album, light on the art-school angst and heavy on the playfulness, which one would hardly expect from such determined socialists as these. But here it is: "Some Questions About Hats" sounds like a
Kurt Weill
outtake, "A Worm Is at Work" gallops along with a sweet tune.
Dagmar Krause
remains restrained and not given to flights of horrible fancy. "Strayed" is reminiscient of
Kevin Ayers
' brand of art rock, and most of the songs clock in under two minutes. But never fear: the album ends on the eight-minute "Caucasian Lullaby," a minimal woodwind piece that suddenly bursts into one last jab of
Krause-ian
despair. ~ Ted Mills