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STIGMATA

(Virgin)

By composing the Stigmata soundtrack with veteran LA studio guy Mike Garson, Billy Corgan proposes that Trent Reznor isn't the only alterna-rock prince who can craft movie-spook sound and enlist the services of the ever more doppelgänger-ish David Bowie, and he throws an electro dream-pop hissy fit to prove it. The result is a fine corollary to Corgan's increasingly heart-shaped agenda these days. The original instrumental music is all burbling, hymn-like loveliness, so organic in execution that it sounds as if Corgan had grown it in his backyard. Although the fresh air suits him well, mawkish subtitles like "tree whispers" and "reflect (purity)" suggest something drove him out of LA and into the enchanted forest. Further grounding in un-reality is provided by primo cuts from otherworldly acts: Björk's whacked showtune "All Is Full of Love," Massive Attack's viscous "Inertia Creeps," Remy Zero's Queen-ly "Gramarye," plus Bowie, Chumbawamba, and Afro Celt Sound System with Sinéad O'Connor. Fortunately, between Adore and Stigmata Corgan actually seems to be embracing life beyond self-perpetuating misery. He goes so far as to risk bad-natured ribbing by assigning Natalie Imbruglia lead vocals on his and Garson's "Identify," the album's smoky centerpiece. She's fine. And Stigmata seems to suggest that Billy is too.

-- Joseph Manera