Elvis Costello
North

THE REVIEW

Bringing together one of the most significant English artists, who was once a punk with a controlled designation of origin, with the world's most famous classical music record label could be a gamble not worth taking; but if the musician is named Elvis Costello and the music publishers are Deutsche Grammophon, then the risk is substantially reduced and indeed the result can be magnificent, as it is with this North.

I have always considered experimentation and never stopping in one's own creative journey after having already achieved excellence, the true mission of every artist: there would be no Guernica if Pablo Picasso had stopped at Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, and there would be no "Imagine" and "Walk On The Wild Side" if J. Lennon had stopped at the great partnership with McCartney and Lou Reed had abdicated the Velvet; or to put it in good de-baserian terms, Kid A after OK Computer!

Costello has already shown ample proof of being a great artist and of surpassing himself. After the punk, the songs of proletarian protest, and the magnificent work together with Burt Bacharach, he now falls in love with Diana Krall (his partner) and goes to encounter the atmospheres of Gershwin. The CD opens with a sound of French horns that will lead us through most of the work, where at times the solo piano and voice will create dim light and headphones atmospheres, allowing concentrated listening to truly pleasant passages, as in "Let Me Tell You About Her" or even more so in a splendid "Fallen," which alone makes the price of the CD worthwhile. "Still," brings us to the turning point of an already excellent record that will brighten many of my upcoming nights.

Almost completely eliminating the guitar and setting the drums free to brush alongside the piano sometimes only lightly touched by Steve Nieve, this album will warm up more than one evening of the impending winter paired with a good drink of high alcoholic content. It's really true: "Punk not dead!"... but it is alive and well here, and its greatest revolution is having managed to play inside Mozart's house!