Elton John
Who believes in angels?

After their duet in the 2009 song Caroline, Elton John and Brandi Carlile have created an entire album together, musically and lyrically stretching between past and future. Ten compositions make up the collection, one of which is sung by Brandi alone.

The album opens with the majestic The Rose of Laura Nyro, featuring a musical introduction of over two minutes with prog-rock hints, as a successful tribute to the American singer-songwriter who died at just 50 years old. A pounding piano instead characterizes Little Richard's Bible, another dedication to one of Elton's references, drawing from his early days. In the lively Swing for the Fences, Brandi not only proves herself up to the collaboration with a veteran like Elton, but also manages to stand out in more than one instance. Then comes Never too late, already an Oscar candidate for best song of 2025. It's a track that feels like a farewell, but also carries the awareness that, despite everything, it's never too late. The song served as the soundtrack for the documentary of the same name, released six years after the biopic Rocketman.

At this point, Brandi Carlile takes the spotlight alone in the touching You without me. But it's with the title track, Who believes in angels?, that the album reaches its peak. A perfect song, beautifully interpreted by an Elton now 78 years old, who despite his vision problems has managed to release his 34th studio album in 57 years of recording activity. In The river man, more than in other tracks, one can notice the country and gritty roots typical of Brandi Carlile. After A little light, the least conspicuous in an otherwise medium-high level album, comes Someone to belong to, a pop ballad as measured as it is rich in emotional nuances, despite its simplicity.

To close the work is the tenth and final track, the song that literally made Elton cry at the piano when he tried it for the first times: we are talking about When this old world is done with me, a track that this time deals with the End, artistically and physically, for Elton. Thus ends Who believes in angels?, a welcome return to the recording studio four years after The Lockdown Sessions, but where this time it is not the veteran hosting a series of young talents, but there is an equal collaboration.

Meanwhile, despite having said goodbye to tours in 2023, Elton does not stop playing on special occasions. News of the last few days, he will also perform in Rome!

I give the album 4 stars, another jewel added to the rich production of the pianist from Pinner.