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Well he's just hit seventy years old, and going as strong as ever (if a little smoother and subtler), delivering his second post-monastery album of new material (the first was 'Ten New Songs') with un-Cohen like haste. While unlikely to produce masterpieces such as 'Songs Of Love And Hate' again, Cohen is certainly still making albums with undeniable grace and style, as a listen to 'Dear Heather' will quickly attest. Almost muted and gospel in sound, and far less lyrically ambiguous than normal, while vocally Cohen tackles his songs with almost hushed reverence, allowing vocalists Sharon Robinson and Anjani Thomas to carry much of the album's melody. Musically the album is largely an intimate and minimal affair, perfectly suiting the confessional-like tone of the album, while Cohen is also taking a sneaky glance at the past - echoing his jazz club poetry readings from the fifties and early sixties ("Go No More A-Roving" and "To A Teacher" are inspired by Irving Layton and A.M. Klein respectively), using a Quebecan folk song for the basis of "The Faith", and tackling "Tennesse Waltz" live, to which he adds a final verse (Cohen's first band was a "country" band). The result is a pleasing and enjoyable work from a genuinely gifted wordsmith, accurately and stylishly reflecting his unique stature within the realms of modern pop music. Recommended. |
