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With new single, Leonard Cohen delivers a sermon

All rise: The church of Leonard Cohen is back in session. The piano progression that introduces the Fedora Man’s new single feels holy, with the lyrics not letting up on the religion. “Show me the place; help me roll away the stone,” Cohen murmurs deeply. “Show me the place; I can’t move this thing alone.”

Show Me the Place is a restrained spiritual co-written and produced by Madonna collaborator Patrick Leonard. It touches on themes of love, god and mortality – no doubt the type of tried-and true allusions to be found within Cohen’s forthcoming album, the modestly titled Old Ideas, set to drop on Jan. 31, 2012, on the Columbia label.

Cohen speak-sings tenderly in a craggy, desiccated baritone. His “head is bent and low,” and the titular plea is done in a dignified manner. He (and the listener) is comforted by plush organ chords, a sympathetic violin and gentle brow-wiping from the choir-sung backup of old friend Jennifer Warnes, her blue raincoat ready on the coat rack.

“Show me the place where you want your slave to go,” is a key refrain. This is about devotion, in whatever form one needs to take it. On her own single, cool star singer Feist asks, “How come you never go there?”

And Cohen? He so goes there, one more time.

LisaLCFan wrote:From Canada's national radio station website:

http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/r2drive/2011/1 ... sten-here/

Full description of product: Old Ideas
Contractor:
Leonard Cohen
Company record label:
Sony Music, January 2012
No:
88697986712
Check out other titles:
Leonard Cohen
Categories:
Folk
Pop> Foreign Pop> Pop Rock

All 10 tracks on the disc moves the dilemmas of human existence - to follow niedoścignionymi goals, obsessed with love, sexuality, loss of a loved one. One of the most spiritual album in the career of an artist, "Old Ideas" leads to thoughts and calls for decency in everyday life, but also lets the listener's eye, and sometimes allows himself to sober joke. Cohen's distinctive baritone and melodic arrangements reminiscent of 'Ten New Songs' (2001) - the most popular album of Cohen's last decades.

Work on 'Old Ideas' started in full swing in January 2011, although some songs and lyrics was already a few years ago. Two songs - 'Darkness' and 'Lullaby' was originally recorded in 2007 and early versions of Leonard presented during the last tour, also in Poland. Tips, what to expect from the new album, Cohen has already given in October 2011 receiving the prestigious Spanish Prince of Asturias Prize for Literature. He said: "As we age, just beginning to understand the instructions they got my voice from above. And they sounded: not mourn casually. If you want to complain to the world in connection with the inevitable defeat which awaits us all, do it with dignity and class."
Album produced Patrick Leonard, Anjani Thomas, Ed Sanders and Dino Soldo, in addition to Cohen's songs, we hear such Sharon Robinson (known precisely, among others, 'Ten New Songs ") and The Webb Sisters. Cover design and drawings in the booklet for the album are the work of Cohen himself. "Old Ideas" will be the twelfth entry in the discography of Leonard Cohen. Will be released in CD and vinyl.
Tracks:
1. Going Home
2. Amen
3. Show Me The Place
4. The Darkness
5. Anyhow
6. Crazy To Love You
7. Come Healing
8. Banjo
9 Lullaby
10. Different Sides