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78 NOVEMBER 2016
MUSIC REVIEWS
Leonard Cohen
You Want It Darker
It's not surprising that Leonard
Cohen, in his 83rd year, continues
to ruminate on mortality and life
after death on his latest album,
a companion to his 2014 release
Popular Problems.
Beautifully under-produced,
Cohen's wizened voice sings,
whispers, speaks, sometimes in
the company of female gospel
and soul singers, and a synagogue
choir on at least two straight-ahead
love songs; he also offers darker
material with lines such as, "You
want it darker, we kill the flame...
I didn't know I had permission to
murder and to maim," from the
title track.
Musically haunting, with subtle
use of piano, violin, bass and
guitar.
(Sony) Billy Pinnell
Lil' Ed And The Blues
Imperials
The Big Sound Of
Inspired by slide guitar kings J.B.
Hutto and Hound Dog Taylor, Ed
Williams and his four-member
band – who've been together
unchanged for thirty years –
continue to uphold the tradition
of fiery, authentic, deeply-rooted
Chicago blues with the release of
their ninth album.
Williams' clever, humorous
songwriting, rollicking slide work
and rough-edged, soulful singing,
finds him at the top of his game
on this collection of scorching slide
workouts and slow smouldering
tracks, many of them enhanced by
the interplay between Ed and his
lead guitarist Michael Garrett.
This is real deal Chicago blues.
(Alligator/Only Blues)
Billy Pinnell
Archie Roach
Let Love Rule
Call it Aussie gospel. For his 10th album, Archie
Roach has delivered a stirring collection of new
songs about music’s oldest topic: love. “You know
I love this country,” Roach sings in the title track,
“every rock and every tree.” But he also knows that
not everything is right in his country: “I cover up
my ears, so I cannot hear the voices of hate and the voices of fear.” The
big-hearted Roach is a reassuring presence in troubled times. ("I’ll always
be here,” he states simply.) Backed by a brilliant band – bass player Steve
Hadley, drummer Dave Folley, violinist Jen Anderson, piano man Bruce
Haymes and backing singer Nancy Bates – Roach and producer Craig
Pilkington have crafted an album of understanding and compassion, hope
and healing: “Love can make your spirits sing – it’s everything.” Roach
is joined by the impressive Emma Donovan for Love Sweet Love ; the
Dhungala Children’s Choir and Short Black Opera Company send Let Love
Rule and No More Bleeding soaring, and Roach sings of the redemptive
power of the Mighty Clarence River: “Be free, gotta be free.” Let Love
Rule is a gift to the nation. Songs for the soul.
(Liberation) Jeff Jenkins
Sleaford Mods TCR
From the Sex Pistols to Billy Bragg
to Sleaford Mods, extreme divisions
in wealth spawn extremely good
punk rock, and unlike the Mods’
namesake, anger never goes out
of style. A decade into their career,
Sleaford Mods are still resident
physicians of all that ails the UK.
Named for Scalextric track cars as
metaphor for the mundane circuit of
working class life, TCR’s five tracks
are less keynote speech than the
mic drop at the end of one. Jason
Williamson’s pub-yob shouts and
sneers leap off the grumbling synth
and guitar lines of Andrew Fearn.
Littered with protest slogans and
nods to their noble lineage, Sleaford
Mods have seen what the world’s
gone through, and can’t stand to
watch where it goes next.
(RoughTrade/Remote Control)
Jake Cleland
Meshuggah
The Violent Sleep Of Reason
Meshuggah may have fascinated
people with their hybrid of
thrash, death metal and jazz, but
their automated approach has
often left me cold. The Violent
Sleep Of Reason is different.
Not since Meshuggah’s debut,
Contradictions Collapse, has the
band sounded so organic. The
reason is simple: Meshuggah
chose to record the album live
as a band. Forgoing the clinical
approach of ObZen and Koloss
gives the songs a chance to
breathe naturally, and it’s a good
thing in my book. Meshuggah
haven’t slacked off when it comes
to musical ability, but they have
tapped into a down-to-earth vibe
not heard in years.
(Caroline/Nuclear Blast)
Simon Lukic
Epica
The Holographic Principle
As their name suggests, Epica
are nothing if not ambitious. The
Dutch sextet have succeeded
in taking symphonic metal into
new directions and they’ve done
so again with The Holographic
Principle. Simone Simons' vocals
are as expressive as always and
the choirs employed always hit
the spot. It’s their generous use
of extreme vocals that gives them
an edge over their peers. Epica is
ultimately heavier than Nightwish
and Within Temptation, as well
as Kamelot and Symphony X.
As expected, The Holographic
Principle has a lot going on and
going for it, so you’ll either love it
for its overblown, pompous nature
or shudder at the overproduced
feel it conveys. (Caroline/Nuclear
Blast) Simon Lukic
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
Shine A Light
Let good friends Billy Bragg
and Joe Henry take you on a
historical train journey with a
collection of old, familiar folk
train songs. Boarding the Texas
Eagle and travelling from Chicago
to Los Angeles, they recorded
over four days while traversing
2,728 miles of railroad track,
recording on platforms and in
waiting rooms while the train
collected passengers along the
way. Background train sounds
and platform goings-on add to
the very live and natural feel of
these recordings, which include
songs by Jimmie Rodgers, Woody
Guthrie, Leadbelly and others. ALL
ABOARD...
(CookingVinyl/Caroline)
Denise Hylands