We haven’t heard the last of the man born with the gift of a golden voice.
Sony announced Sept. 20 that a new collection of recordings by the late Canadian poet, author, and songwriter Leonard Cohen titled “Thanks for the Dance” will be released later this year.
Cohen, whose illustrious career spawned two novels, 17 poetry books and 14 albums, died in November 2016 at age 82 — just a few weeks after the release of his album, “You Want it Darker.”
But his son Adam didn’t believe the story was over quite yet.
A recording musician in his own right, Adam Cohen said in a press release that after collaborating with his father on Leonard’s last album, there were pieces of incomplete recordings and vocal tracks remaining. He said Leonard asked him to complete the work.
Setting up in his converted garage studio, Adam recruited some new musicians who hadn’t previously worked with Leonard to record the backing tracks to his vocals — including Beck, Leslie Feist, The National’s guitarist Bryce Dessner, and Arcade Fire’s bassist Richard Reed Parry, among others.
Javier Mas, the Spanish laud player who was part of Leonard’s touring band for his last eight years, returns to this album — this time playing Leonard’s own guitar in his honour.
“In composing and arranging the music for his words, we chose his most characteristic musical signatures, in this way keeping him with us,” Adam Cohen said in the press release. “What moves me most about the album is the startled response of those who have heard it. ‘Leonard lives!'”
In tandem with the announcement, Sony released “The Goal”, the first single from the upcoming album. A little more than a minute long, it features Leonard reciting a new poem while music swells behind him.
“Thanks for the Dance” will be released on Nov. 22, 2019.
Tracklist:
- Happens to the Heart
- Moving On
- The Night of Santiago
- Thanks for the Dance
- It’s Torn
- The Goal
- Puppets
- The Hills
- Listen to the Hummingbird
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
