Paul Simon: Surprise - 2006
Paul Simon hadn't put out an album for six years when he put this out in 2006. For his "comeback album" he collaborated, some would say surprisingly, with Brian Eno, of Roxy Music, David Bowie, Talking Heads and U2 fame.
The result is a beguiling, adventurous, slightly different Simon album that challenges its listener. I guess that is what you would expect from one as avant-garde as Eno. Rather than re-visit the styles that made him successful over many decades, Simon/Eno choose to be ingenious and inventive as opposed to retrospective. It is possibly his most creative, innovative album, but not necessarily his most listenable.
The quiet but powerful, quirkily rhythmic How Can You Live In The North-East? exemplifies what we have always known - that Simon was never a fist pumper of a protest singer. He makes his points wisely and often wearily, as if grinding through day by day, getting increasingly tired. Simon is often bitter-sweet, his hope ground down by a deep, academic unease. He was like this on Hearts And Bones back in 1983 and now his condition has worsened, so to speak.
Everything About It Is A Love Song sounds very like a latter-era David Bowie song, particularly on its fast, programmed drum loops. Outrageous also uses contemporary drum sounds and its vocals flirt vaguely with rap while a modern sounding guitar swirls all around.
Sure Don't Feel Like Love also pounds with contemporary beats while still delivering Simon's enigmatic lyrics. He is more up front and almost aggressive vocally (comparatively) on here. This is no Slip Sliding Away. Wartime Prayers is a more typical slow, gentle Simon ballad - or so you expect, initially. It grinds away, after a while, with a gospelly dignity and U2-esque rousing, anthemic guitar and drum backing.
Beautiful has an archetypal Simon rhythmic backing and the sort of lyrics that you have come to expect from him. It moves effortlessly into the slow, thoughtful I Don't Believe. The drums on here are very U2, as indeed are the occasional guitar interjections. The influence is subtle, however.
Another Galaxy is, perhaps unsurprisingly, somewhat spacey in its main backing, which merges with a crystal clear acoustic guitar to produce a mysterious, brooding but also bright soundscape that is very Eno. An infectious percussion arrives too and Simon's gentle voice glides over it all beautifully. The final guitar-rhythm part is captivating.
Once Upon A Time There Was An Ocean has a wonderful guitar riff and an equally superb vocal. Simon and Eno are in perfect sync here. A similarly guitar-driven edgy ambience can be found on That's Me. It is like Paul Simon meeting U2 and provides a most intriguing listen. You need to listen to it several times, though. This eclectic, enjoyable ends with the tender and beautiful, typically Simon-esque Father And Daughter. This is a highly recommended album that begs repeated listens.
