Leonard Cohen

Live In Fredericton EP

Columbia Records 88691961157 2012 12" 33rpm (USA)

Released exclusively to independent music stores in honor of Record Store Day 2012, this pleasant live E.P. contains songs from a 2008 show in Fredericton, New Brunswick during the same tour that birthed Cohen's previous full-length live album, "Songs From The Road". Only 1,000 copies of this E.P., which includes renditions of "Bird On The Wire", "Who By Fire", "In My Secret Life" and several others, were produced. Cohen's backing band is in top form on this release, nine musicians strong. The instrumentation is eclectic and relaxed, with bandurias, archilauds, wind instruments, and female backup singers complimenting Cohen's raspy baritone voice which has, over the years, aged like a fine wine. The band is flexible, going from light accompaniment to a full-on old country twang on "Heart With No Companion".

What is there that can be said about Leonard Cohen's lyrics that hasn't already been said? They are poetry at its finest, accessible to anyone and intensely personal to those who have endured longing, heartbreak, and defeat. That isn't to say that Cohen doesn't have his lighter moments. Hopefulness prevails in at least one number, "Dance Me To The End of Love", and Cohen himself seems to be in good humor, speaking in French to his audience briefly before several songs. Cohen certainly hasn't turned into a heritage act, either, repeating the same material night after night. Not at all. Even now, more than forty years after the release of his first album, he is toying and adjusting his own lyrics, giving many songs a fresh, new identity or perspective by changing a single line or phrase.

This is a fantastic release from one of the world's best and most renowned songwriters, and, seeing that it was manufactured in such a small quantity, it will become a coveted item in the years to come. The performance itself is wonderfully executed and Cohen is for the most part in top form vocally-emotional and in search of liberation from his own world of despair.

Tracklist
A1   Dance Me To The End Of Love  6:07  
A2   In My Secret Life  5:02  
A3   Heart With No Companion  5:03  
B1   Bird On The Wire  6:29  
B2   Who By Fire  6:32  

    Backing Vocals – Sharon Robinson
    Bandurria, Laúd, Twelve-string Guitar – Javier Mas
    Drums, Percussion – Rafael Bernardo Gayol
    Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass, Backing Vocals – Roscoe Beck
    Guitar, Backing Vocals – Charley Webb
    Harmonica, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Dino Soldo
    Harp, Backing Vocals – Hattie Webb
    Keyboards – Neil Larsen
    Lead Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar – Bob Metzger
    Mastered By – Doug Sax, Robert Hadley
    Photography By – Lorca Cohen, Michael Petit, Robert Yager
    Producer, Mixed By – Edward Sanders
    Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards – Leonard Cohen

Condition:  LP is Excellent in a picture sleeve in GOOD condition, signed by John Mayall (signature dated July 1993)

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