Neil Young
Le Noise (Warners)
Every Neil Young album of the past decade has had its moments of wonder (eg. ‘Bandit’ on 2003’s Greendale, ‘Ordinary People’ on 2007’s Chrome Dreams II), but in all honesty, Old Father Grunge hasn’t released an entirely consistent album since 1994’s Sleeps With Angels. Anyone who has drifted away should tune back in pronto, however, as a new association with producer Daniel Lanois has yielded a powerfully atmospheric solo guitar/voice collection. Scorched-earth electric opener ‘Walk With Me’ establishes the general ambience, whilst the gorgeous ‘Love & War’ revisits an ominous acoustic mood last heard to full effect on 1989’s Freedom.
David Davies
