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Marianne Faithfull - Before The Poison

Marianne Faithfull - Before The Poison

$60.00
$60.00
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This is a new vinyl record of the album Before The Poison by Marianne Faithfull. The album was first released in 2004 and this is a pressing from 2023. This album is presented on limited edition 180g clear vinyl. 

Simply put, Before the Poison is an album that concerns itself with both sides of love, friendship, and redemption, not desolation or desperation. That said, there is plenty of human shadow in these ten songs. Polly Harvey wrote three songs here, co-wrote a pair with Faithfull, and is present on all of them. Nick Cave co-wrote three with the singer and his Bad Seeds back her on these tracks. She also co-wrote one apiece with Blur's Damon Albarn and composer Jon Brion. Along with Harvey and Cave, Rob Ellis and Hal Willner aided in production. Therefore, Before the Poison, like its predecessor, Kissin' Time, is an album of collaborations. But unlike that offering, this one is seamless; its songs are sequenced impeccably and all feel of a piece linked by emotional thematics. Harvey's songs are all moving and beautiful. Faithfull's reading of "No Child of Mine," a track that appeared on PJ's own last album, Uh Huh Her, has more depth and texture than the original. Harvey is pushing it on, underneath, her signature guitar sound ushering in each line as Faithfull -- in fantastic voice throughout -- does a call and response with herself until the refrain, when Harvey harmonizes and adds dimension to the stark loss and resignation uttered with great empathy and even tenderness. On "The Mystery of Love," which opens the set, Faithfull brings the weight of her life experience to Harvey's poetic lyric and opens its fathomless heart. On Cave's "Crazy Love," the lyric could have accompanied the footage in Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire. As Faithfull paints the skeletal portraits of the song's protagonists who move around the chessboard of life, she gets to the refrain where the tune splits wide and, as Warren Ellis' raggedly elegant violin sweeps above the rest, the singers offers a poetic truth from her own life: "Crazy love is all around me/Love is crazy, love is kind/But I know somehow you'll find me/Love is crazy, love is blind." On Albarn's "Last Song," possibility has passed into memory amid the swell of strings, tambourines, and acoustic pianos. It's a devastating track, and Faithfull sings with an authority that can only be borne by a witness. The disc closes with "City of Quartz," written with Brion. It's a fractured, slightly off-kilter waltz that could have easily appeared on Blazing Away or even as an outtake from 20th Century Blues. The notion of time's passage is in the present tense here, as strings enter amid the chimes underscoring longing, and the acceptance of human need. Before the Poison is poetic and unnerving; it stands alone in her catalog in the same way that Broken English did -- but this time, on the other side of the mirror.
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What does shipping cost?
We have a range of options for shipping and delivery:

- Standard postage within lutruwita/Tasmania is $8
- Express postage within lutruwita/Tasmania is $14.
- Standard postage to mainland Australia is $12.
- Express shipping to mainland Australia is $18.
- Standard shipping is FREE for all orders within Australia over $150.
- Standard shipping to NZ is $22.
- Express shipping to NZ is $32.
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How soon will I receive my order?

Your order will be shipped within 3 business days, unless we are exceptionally busy. All parcels are sent via Australia Post and if you're outside Tasmania will usually take between 5-6 days after shipping, to reach you. Orders to New Zealand will take 6+ business days after shipping. Express post parcels will generally be received between 1-2 days after shipping. The delivery time will vary depending on your location. Please check your Australia Post Network for actual delivery times and allow extra time for delivery at busy times, like Christmas. If you require a parcel urgently, please let us know and we will endeavour to send it out within 24 hours. Please note, postage is currently slower than usual, due to COVID19. 

Environmentally conscious postage

Orders are packed using a protective cardboard mailer, or re-used cardboard boxes. Where extra padding is needed, we use compostable honeycomb wrap, re-used bubble wrap, recycled brown paper, or re-used clean paper. We use brown paper tape and eco-shipping labels. All packaging materials can be composted in your home compost system, recycled, or used as sheet mulch. 

Of course, the elephant in the room is that you're buying plastic. It's our preference to stock well made, second-hand records, and those made from recycled or bio-plastic content, where possible. Our hope is that you'll take them home and love them for life.

All records come in a sturdy, clear, 90 microns CPP plastic sleeve. Seriously damaged or missing inner sleeves will be replaced with poly-lined paper sleeves. These are are not intended to be single-use plastic, but are intended to provide long-term archival protection for your records, so they last a lifetime, if well cared for. Please let us know if you'd rather not receive your record in a plastic sleeve.

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All packaging materials we receive are re-used for postage, recycled (plastics only), or composted in our garden.

Returns policy

If you find an item in your order is damaged, faulty or not as described, please email us with photos and a clear description of the problem, within 7 days, to organise replacement of goods, or full refund of the product value. 

We do not accept returns from customers who have changed their mind about a product. This is because we understand the environmental impact and waste involved in packaging and shipping parcels across the country, and aim to discourage fast and wasteful consumerism where possible. We aim to provide clear descriptions on all product listings and we're very happy to assist you in making your purchase. We want you to be thrilled about what you choose. Please choose wisely. 

Condition Grading

Condition grading of preloved vinyl

We grade the cover (sleeve) and vinyl (record) separately, so you know what you’re getting.

The price label will show an abbreviated rating – first, the rating for the cover, and second, a rating for the vinyl record (e.g. VG/VG+).

The grading categories are:

Near Mint (NM)

The cover (sleeve) should have no creases, folds, seam splits, or noticeable defects.

The record will be in near perfect condition with no imperfections during playback. It may have evidence of slight handling.

Very Good Plus (VG+)

The cover may have slight wear, indents, cut marks or a slight split seam.

The record will show some signs that it has been played. Any defects should be cosmetic and not affect playback. The record may show some signs of wear and have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect the listening experience.

Very Good (VG)

The cover may have some signs of wear and noticeable indentations or cut marks. Any ring wear should be faint. Labels may be marred by writing or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached.

The record may emit surface noise upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade but will not overpower the music. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches that will affect the sound.

Good Plus (G+), Good (G)

The sleeve will have seam splits. Tape, writing, ring wear, or other defects will be present.

A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be played through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise, scratches, and visible groove wear.

Fair (F), Poor (P)

The sleeve barely keeps the record inside it. Inner sleeves are fully split, crinkled, and written upon.

The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing.