Antony and the Johnsons

After a bit of moonlighting, Antony Hegarty has finally come back to his Johnsons, not for a proper full-length, yet, but for teaser EP Another World. With only five tracks and 20 minutes, his return is undeniably brief, but arrests the emotions nonetheless, and exquisitely at that. The leadoff track, "Another World" (which will also appear on Antony and the Johnsons' forthcoming 2009 album, The Crying Light), quickly brings back all the heart-wrenching soulfulness that's become the band's calling card. As Hegarty lists all the things he'll miss from a disappearing world, he sounds as much like an angel as ever, with that beautiful cabaret voice of his floating over sparse, tenderly played piano. The remaining tracks stick to a similar barebones aesthetic, easily sucking you in and making all 20 minutes well spent. But, really, it's "Another World" that steals the show, easily ranking up there with the I Am a Bird highlight "Hope There's Someone" and giving a stunning snapshot of what's in store for the future.