advertisement
FYI

Elvis Costello: Newspaper Pane

Ace wordsmithery and an evocative soundscape mesh to fine effect.

Elvis Costello: Newspaper Pane

By Kerry Doole

Elvis Costello - Newspaper Pane (Concord/UMC): We're not sure if the music of the English bard now qualifies as Canadian content, but we can certainly now stake claim to at least partial ownership of the prolific and acclaimed artist. After all, he's married to Canadian pop/jazz queen Diana Krall and has a residence in BC, as well as being managed by Canadian industry veterans, Steve Macklam and Sam Feldman.


On Friday, Costello released debuted Newspaper Pane, the fifth advance track from his forthcoming album, Hey Clockface, out on Oct. 30. The music for the song was written and produced in New York by composer/arranger, Michael Leonhart (Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Rufus Wainwright), in collaboration with guitarist Bill Frisell, and completed by lyrical verses Costello added from his westward locale.

advertisement

Trumpeter Leonhart then punctuated Costello’s vocal with a horn arrangement, interweaving with Frisell's guitar and the playing of a New York rhythm section. 

As press notes explain, "the text for Newspaper Pane opens with a description of a woman staring at promises of an unattainable life, printed on a sheet of newspaper that she has taped to a broken window pane against the elements."

This is Elvis at his wordiest finest. Sample lyrics: "Pictures of bright futures somehow ignored, That offered her finery she could never afford, Tempting out savings that she didn’t have or could never risk, Not a fashionable kindness, it was grotesque."

He delivers the lyrics over an intriguing musical soundscape constructed by some of the best in the biz, and the result is as energizing as Bob Dylan's recent superb work.

The song was mixed at Bigtop Studio, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles by Sebastian Krys, Costello’s co-producer for both Hey Clockface and the preceding, Grammy-winning, Look Now album with The Imposters. The accompanying video is a collaboration between Eamon Singer and Arlo McFurlow. 

advertisement

We look forward to the full album with real eagerness.

Links

Website 

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Publicity: Amanda McCauley, Indoor Recess

Management: Steve Macklam / Sam Feldman,  Macklam Feldman Management

Agent: Marsha Vlasic, Artist Group International

advertisement
GMINXR
Alt. Studio Lab

GMINXR

Music

New & Upcoming Canadian Albums: Punjabi-Canadian Producer GMINXR Drops 'Hit List' EP on 91 North Records

Also this week, Neil Young puts out the new documentary soundtrack, Coastal, and Tami Neilson has announced the new album, Neon Cowgirl. Check out the full release calendar here.

It's a holiday weekend, but Good Friday hasn't stopped the slew of releases on New Music Friday,.

Heading up notable new releases this week is GMINXR. Fresh from a Juno Awards performance, the internationally renowned Punjabi-Canadian producer now has his own release, Hit List, featuring Tegi Pannu and Zehr Vibe. It's out on 91 North Records, the label collaboration between Warner Music India and Warner Music Canada. The five-song EP is inspired by both golden era hip-hop and Punjabi folk music, and infused with GMINXR's trademark trap beats.

keep readingShow less
advertisement