Album Preview
Neil Young: Le Noise
The release of any new Neil Young album is always cause for celebration, as he remains the most consistently note-worthy artist regularly producing records over the past 40+ years. What makes his newest album, Le Noise, even more special is the contributions from producer Daniel Lanois, who brings his Grammy Award-winning touch to Young’s inimitable style. At heart, the record is almost skeletally simple: Young alone, singing and playing a guitar on eight new tracks. But Lanois’ production opens a wide sonic vista that takes the songs to another level, blending electronic and acoustic elements with Young’s own powerful performances. The lead track, “Walk with Me,” exemplifies their technique: a slashing, chiming guitar-line breaks down into a buzzing drone, while Young’s pleading vocals cascade into the musical horizon. It’s affecting stuff from two master craftsmen meshing their talents perfectly.
The release of any new
Neil Young album is always cause for celebration, as he remains the most consistently note-worthy artist regularly producing records over the past 40+ years. What makes his newest album,
Le Noise, even more special is the contributions from producer Daniel Lanois, who brings his Grammy Award-winning touch to Young’s inimitable style. At heart, the record is almost skeletally simple: Young alone, singing and playing a guitar on eight new tracks. But Lanois’ production opens a wide sonic vista that takes the songs to another level, blending electronic and acoustic elements with Young’s own powerful performances. The lead track, “Walk with Me,” exemplifies their technique: a slashing, chiming guitar-line breaks down into a buzzing drone, while Young’s pleading vocals cascade into the musical horizon.
It’s affecting stuff from two master craftsmen meshing their talents perfectly.
-- Eric J. LawrenceKCRW Music Librarian and DJ,
Exclusive video of Neil Young performing "Sign of Love"
Le Noisewill be available On-Demand from September 21 through October 4, 2010. The album release date is September 28, 2010.
Related KCRW Programming: Neil Young interview and guest DJ session on Morning Becomes Eclectic, August 4 & 5, 2004
http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb040804neil_young
http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb040805neil_young
Artist Website: www.neilyoung.com
Track listing
1. Walk With Me
2. Sign of Love
3. Someone’s Gonna Rescue You
4. Love and War
5. Angry World
6. Hitchhiker
7. Peaceful Valley Boulevard
8. Rumblin’