Leonard Cohen: Thanks For The Dance (180g)

Label: Sony, 2019

The album Thanks for the Dance is a true extension of the work of an unforgotten artist: the longplayer is not a commemorative album with B-sides and outtakes, it unexpectedly gives us nine new songs that are exciting and vital - a continuation of Cohen's last work. In fact, Thanks For The Dance contains recordings that date back to the time before Leonard Cohen's death in November 2016 and now come to the release

Seven months after his father's death, Adam Cohen retreated to a converted garage in his backyard near Leonard's house to work with his father again and be in the company of his voice. A few musical sketches remained from their previous collaboration on You Want It Darker, often just vocals. Leonard had asked his son to bring these works to completion

The remarkable new album was born in a variety of places. Javier Mas, the great Spanish laudist who had accompanied Leonard on stage during his eight-year tour, flew from Barcelona to Los Angeles to capture the spirit of the artist on Leonard's own guitar. In Berlin, at the People Festival music event, Adam invited several friends and collaborators to contribute to the album. Damien Rice and Leslie Feist sang. Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire played bass. Bryce Dessner of The National played guitar, and composer Dustin O'Halloran can be heard on piano. The Berlin choir Cantus Domus sang and the S t a r g a z e Orchestra played. In Montreal, famed producer Daniel Lanois dropped in on the sessions and wonderfully contributed his arrangements. The Shaar Hashomayim choir, which played such an important part in creating the sound of the last album, contributed to one song, and Patrick Watson brought his inimitable talent as co-producer to one song. Back in Los Angeles, Jennifer Warnes, one of the keepers of Leonard's creative flame, sang background vocals, and Beck played guitar and Jew's harp. Michael Chaves, who had so elegantly recorded and mixed the album You Want It Darker, handled the engineering and mixing

Thanks For The Dance is thus an unexpected blessing, a gift of beauty and strength. Leonard Cohen's voice has not stopped. The dance continues.