Product Description

The follow-up to Ten New Songs, legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen releases Dear Heather, twelve new songs plus a live rendition of the old country standard "Tennessee Waltz".

Track Listing

1. Go No More A-Roving
2. Because Of
3. The Letters
4. Undertow
5. Morning Glory
6. On That Day
7. Villanelle For Our Time
8. There For You
9. Dear Heather
10. Nightingale
11. To A Teacher
12. The Faith
13. Tennessee Waltz (Live)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5490 in Music
• Released on: 2004-10-25
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Anyone who thinks that rock stars should have a retirement age is obviously not a big Leonard Cohen fan. Aged 70, Cohen has rolled out Dear Heather, which stands, alongside Ten New Songs and I'm Your Man as proof positive that there is life after youth for this part-time monk. But even on his early albums, Cohen sounded positively ancient, wise beyond his years- you get the feeling that he's at the age he was born to be, and Dear Heather feels like the album he's been waiting to make. As soon as it starts, you know it's not going to be anything less than classic Cohen. His deep rich croon, weathered slightly through the ravages of age, has matured like an oak tree, betraying enough expression that even a man of 50 would sound immature with his words. Musically, he's ably supported primarily by soft keyboard textures and female vocals that sooth the rough edges of his voice, but nothing too obtrusive to blunt his vision. Impossible to pick a standout, the album works as a whole piece, and even when Cohen tackles country standard "The Tennessee Waltz", its heartbreaking content make it sound like his own work. Essential. --Thom Allott

Customer Reviews

Masterpiece
Much more varied than Ten New Songs, Dear Heather sounds patchy at first listen. But repeated spins reveal the beauty and the cohesive themes of the album.

Lord Byron's poem, Go No More A Roaming, sets the mood, with lovely backing by Sharon Robinson. The enigmatic Because Of, with its repeated refrain "Look at me Leonard/One last time" is a beautiful blend of eros and thanatos, spiced by wry humour and embellished with the beautiful voice of Anjani Thomas.

Simplicity rules on The Letters where Sharon Robinson and LC share the vocals, sometimes solo, sometimes together. With its sparse instrumentation, Undertow has a dreamy melody and evocative imagery with Thomas taking the female vocal.

Morning Glory is another oneiric soundscape with tinkling keyboards and spoken vocals framed by the divine female voice. The most poignant moment on the album is On That Day (They Wounded New York), an elegant, lilting song with hypnotic harp textures.

Villanelle For Our Time, written by Frank Scott, is a spoken poem with memorable lines like: "From bitter searching of the heart/We rise to play a greater part." The title track is a delightful love song with innovative arrangement including harp and trumpet, and playful vocals. One to whistle in the bath.

With its catchy tune and lovely harmonies, Nightingale is a little folk-pop gem with main vocal by Thomas, whilst To A Teacher is another recited poem. The sound of The Faith resembles that of the album Recent Songs, with Raffi Hakopian on violin and John Bilezikjian on the lute. This is very moving, like a graceful farewell.

The albums ends, surprisingly but fittingly, with a 1985 live version of Tennessee Waltz, raw and powerful in its rootsy country delivery. The song receives Leonard's addendum, a third verse in his own poetic style.

Some people are forever stuck on Cohen's 1960s style. They don't like Death Of A Ladies' Man and they dissed Ten New Songs, so they won't appreciate this one either. I consider it a masterpiece with his genius expressed in a refreshing variety of styles and timeless songs. Dear Heather might well be the last proper Leonard Cohen studio album. If so, what a moving farewell.

Persevere!
Like some of the other reviewers my initial reaction to "Dear Heather" was surprise and disappointment: having also recently bought "Ten new songs" I had expected something similar. I listened once and then put my reactions on hold. The next day I tried again, this time knowing I had something different in store. I played the disc through twice and my initial disappointment began to change. Now (a week after purchase) I have got to know, like and enjoy all of the tracks. Some I still find a bit mystifying (e.g. the title track), but all are worth listening to. The range is in my opinion greater than in many other Cohen discs and it is different in tone - but it certainly rewards perseverence. Currently I would give it 4* but this continues to rise!

An old master returns
As with other reviewers, I concur that one first experiences bafflement, then dawning realization that this is yet another example of a genius at work. Those who characterise LC's work as: "Music to commit suicide by" just do not get the irony and subtle humour of a man who is simply irrepressible. My star track is: "To a Teacher" with phrases like: "Where the shadows live in the rafters like day-weary bats" and: "I have entered under this dark roof as fearlessly as an honoured son enters his father's house" - almost orgasmic, which is how music and poetry should be. If you are getting less then you are missing out. My main complaint about LC is that he has spoilt my life by making other lyricists seem pale by comparison; nobody else comes close and, even if one cannot grasp the full intricacies of his musings (like me!), it is still a combination of mood and phraseology, along with innovative use of delightfully obscure instrumentation and high quality arrangement, that stuns the soul and uplifts the spirit. This is a must for your collection - how can so many people miss the point?