Dear Heather - Leonard Cohen Album Review

Album Review

Take a trip on the good ship Leonard Cohen. Cohen is not a man to be rushed at any cost. The poet, author, intellectual and songwriter has released one of best albums ever. As per usual, albums don't come off the factory production line. He treats his work as an art form. It was only when I received a review copy of the Essential Leonard Cohen last year that I was converted. Though not everyone's cup of tea, partly due to his self - indulgent morbidity, this is a massive step forward in terms of accessibility. Dripping in sensuality from the very beginning, Go No More A - Roving,( words by Lord Byron and perhaps a personal statement) and intellectualisation in love and philosophy, it's almost as if Cohen's turned a corner - but not too big a corner. In effect, it's poetry in motion, : quaint, uncluttered with many spoken words, plus the added beauty of songbirds Sharon Robinson and Anjani Thomas who have a considerable input. Also look out for some smokey, stunning and understated sax play by Bob Sheppard - Undertow and the opening track, which at times, gives it a new Jazz feel .A reference to 9/11 on That Day; Cohen keeps an open mind, and resorts to becoming none judgemental, but elsewhere he never falls short of his directness eg There For You and The Letters. His cover of a Quebec folk song - The Faith - is an absolute tearjerker. Stewart and King's Tennessee Waltz is a stirring climax. It moves along like a steady ship, never causing too much of a splash - but drowning you in the warmth of the water. One for culture vultures and lovers in the world. Delightful.

Best tracks, 1, 3, 10.

Over his career Cohen has sold more than 11 million albums world-wide, which include -Songs from A Room, Songs Of Love And Hate, New Skin For The Old Ceremony, Death Of A Ladies' Man, Recent Songs, Various Positions, I'm Your Man, The Future, Ten New Songs.

Elly Roberts