Kitchens of Distinction

Kitchens of Distinction's 4 Men single collects one track from The Death of Cool and two B-sides, both of which also appear on the band's Breathing Fear single. "4 Men" jumps off the blocks like a world-class sprinter. Patrick Fitzgerald's vocals are confident and emotional, suggesting worlds of hasty lust as his lyrics paint a a heartfelt picture of sexual attraction and rejection. Waves of sound from Julian Swales guitar and Fitzgerald's somber bass present emotions as brittle and bold as the lyrics. The song is just one of many absolutely excellent tracks from The Death of Cool, which has stood the test of time as a great album. "Goodbye Voyager" is a much more subdued affair, which doesn't necessarily fit that well up against "4 Men." Guitars shimmer, but Fitzgerald sounds more depressed than usual. The song sounds more than a bit like a Durutti Column creation; there's a sense that it was meant to be instrumental, as Fitzgerald's vocals seem like more of an afterthought than on most songs in Kitchen's discography. "Goodbye Voyager" is pleasant, but ultimately rather lackluster and lifeless. "Skin" is quite beautiful. It's a touching, quiet instrumental that sees gentle, acoustic guitars chiming peacefully over an ambient soundscape; there's a wealth of emotion buried in the song's sweet, rolling cadence. Still, it's only fair to say that the song worked better on the Breathing Fear single, where it was paired with "Air Shifting," a song with a similar poetic grace. 4 Men is worth a look if one doesn't already have Breathing Fear in his or her collection. Breathing Fear and The Death of Cool simply present the material in a more palatable light. Otherwise, 4 Men is another dose of genius from one of the best bands of their era. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Music Guide