North [Enhanced]

'North' is very much a story, following the sequence of the tracks is essential to getting the feel of the whole piece. Its the story of losing love and finding someone new and for me captures the subtle stages we all go through brilliantly. The pain of separation, the uncertainty of new partners, the admiration of lovers and the overwhelming optimism being with someone give you. The whole rollercoaster in fact. The titles of the tracks almost give away how the tale unfolds, but it is only in listening to the lyrics that you get the full effect of Costellos mastery of songwriting.

The musical settings for these songs is a obviously influenced by his works with Bacharach, but they have been given the quirky chord changes that make them stand out as original and wonderful Costello. Piano and strings dominate the music, and at times almost have an air of Noel Coward about them. Not that the album is perfect. I found the opening 3 songs a little uninspiring even though the lyrics are well crafted. In particular the second song 'Someone Took The Words Away' is the best description of being tongue tied and uncertain I've ever heard. Tracks 5 to 8 are most definitely the strongest musically, but then we are beginning to fall back in love along with the narrator so the music reflects this. 'Still' is quite simply breathtaking, sounding wonderful yet written with such beautiful phrases that it is humbling to hear. 'Let Me Tell You about Her' is funny and far too close to the truth. For anyone who has bored their friends to tears talking about their latest amour they will love this song.

In short the album is the best piece of lyricism I've heard for a long time. A true and simple depiction of falling out of and into love. Whether the musical setting is to everyones tastes I'm unsure. If you enjoyed the work Costello did with Bacharrach or the Brodsky Quartet then musically you will love this. It has much more in common with 'The Juliet Letters' than 'When I Was Cruel' or 'Armed Forces'. But then who wants to stand still? Elvis Costello more than any living 'pop' artist continually tries to explore and develop his abilities. This album is a breath of fresh air and in my opinion is a quite beautiful and brilliant piece of work. Again Costello has developed as a writer and I can only hope this continues for a long, long time.

This is definitely a change of pace for this year’s model - especially if we compare it to last year’s retro-return When I Was Cruel - with a style that is best described as piano jazz, with roots in neo-classical pop... but please; don’t let that put you off. Here Elvis croons along in a manner not too dissimilar to his father, bandleader Ross MacManus, whilst former attraction Steve Nieve fills in on the piano. We see the addition of a sting section and an arrangement of horns added to complement the melancholic ballad When Green Eyes Turn Blue, whilst there is a reappearance by regular collaborators The Brodsky Quartet on the wonderfully short soliloquy, Still. This is one of those albums that work towards creating a mood, or maybe even accompanying a mood that the listener was already in… and is especially enjoyable during long, reflective train journeys.

Many have described NORTH simply as Costello’s love letter to new fiancée Diana Krall - which would explain the sudden leniency towards moody vocals and slow-burning arrangements - but much more than that, it is his cementation of his break up with long-time partner Cait O’Roirden. The songs that open the album, when Elvis has been left in the dark, burn with an intense sadness that few albums can equate. One such line, “maybe this is the love song I refused to write her when I loved her like I used to” is particularly heart breaking, whist the images behind You Turned to Me will pretty much cause the hairs on you’re neck to stand on end.

As others have no doubt mention, this is far from an immediate work, taking a good few listens to relax into the mood that Mr Costello creates... but once we are tuned to his philosophies and romantic ramblings the music lifts us above our mundane surroundings and offers us - in a similar, though at the same time completely different way to King of America - a series of interconnected stories and ruminations... sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but always stamped with Costello’s ever-present mark of excellence. How can you possibly pass this up?

Much has been made of the bemused Costello fan - expecting punk and getting country, looking for electric guitars and finding string quartets. Attractions become Imposters. And any fan confused by this journey will be none the wiser for heading North, but maybe all the richer. The CD is full of surprises: yes, that's Elvis at the piano, yes, these are quiet, low key melodies. But more than that, Elvis is in love. After years of spittle-spattered anger, this is a CD of gentle tenderness, though still with a truth that hits you right between the eyes.

All these songs are complex melodies, shades of Brodsky's (who make an appearance on one track), shades of Bacharach, even hints of Berlin and Gershwin. Steve Nieve is almost ever-present but there are no multi-octave fireworks, no Abba-esque contortions. Just a quiet backdrop, the lightest touch. If this list of references is enough to turn you off, I understand, but I recommend you buy this CD anyway - after a few listens the beauty of the melodies takes hold of even the most narrow-minded of rockers, and won't let go. When It Sings and Still immediately stand out, perhaps more accessible than the rest, but every track grows on you at different speeds and no doubt the rest will follow. Can You Be True? Elvis asks of his lover towards the end of the CD. Before now, we've always suspected the answer was No, now we know it's Yes.

Elvis' army have often felt short-changed by these disparate episodes of song, but the truth is we've had more than we bargained for. Since when was that a bad thing?