Paul Simon is something of an enigma. The 64 year old has always lived life on his own terms and played the pop star game by his rules, often shunning the spotlight for the sake of his artistic integrity.
He was, of course, one half of Simon and Garfunkel, the legendary duo that changed the face of American folk rock in the ‘60s with their socially conscious lyrics and haunting harmonies. Today they are perhaps best remembered for their contribution to The Graduate soundtrack.
After a messy divorce from Garfunkel, Simon put together an impressive body of solo work, including 1986’s Graceland album, in which he cleverly fused folk with the polyrhythmic grooves of South Africa. Its unexpected commercial success brought so called ‘world music’ to the West, and it’s a musical path Simon has being following ever since. Until now.
Surprise, his first album since 2000’s poorly received You’re the One, marks his first collaboration with ambient pioneer and producer Brian Eno (Talking Heads, U2), who is credited with providing ‘Electronics’ and ‘Sonic Landscapes’.
Could it be Mr. Simon has gone all avant garde on us?
They say:
Uncut: “A comeback of unexpected maturity and power.”
Slant Magazine: “What is startling about Simon’s latest solo effort is how fresh and alive it sounds.”
Entertainment Weekly: “Patience is rewarded with moments of stellar songwriting.”
We say:
Thankfully, Surprise isn’t as electronically processed as many journos predicted. Eno’s input is pretty much what you would expect – all subtle inflections and glacial atmospherics which serve the folk based sound rather than dictate it. It’s hardly Kraftwerk.
Still, what’s most surprising here is how comfortable Simon seems in this relatively new sonic territory. He sounds like a man reborn, kicking off his slippers and shaking off the lassitude that so troubled his last studio effort.
Opening track ‘How Can You Live in the Northeast‘, which has an intro that brings to mind The Flaming Lips’ ‘Fight Test’, sees Simon addressing the Hurricane Katrina disaster with his warm vocals providing solace to lyrics tinged with understandable anger and sadness.
‘Everything About It Is a Love’, meanwhile, is a schizophrenic delight, a sincere ballad one minute and then mild old school drum n’ bass the next, while ‘Wartime Prayers’ is a moving plea for peace, connecting the personal with the political, much like golden oldie ‘Sound of Silence’.
Elsewhere Simon faces up to his own mortality with trademark humility, such as on the guitar driven funk of ‘Outrageous’, where he questions why he bothers painting his hair “the colour of mud”. It’s this kind of honesty that makes the album so refreshing. Eno’s percussive paintbrush is just the icing on the cake.
With Surprise Simon has defied the odds and made his most relevant and aesthetically pleasing album in 20 years. Here’s to the next 60.
Like this? Try these:
Paul McCartney – Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard
Simon and Garfunkel – The Essential Simon and Garfunkel
The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
RELEASED
Monday 5th June
LABEL
Warner Brothers
POSTED...
Wed 31 May 2006 at 8:58pm
