For me the only relevant music was created during the sixties and seventies. After that came the disco, the glammer and the trash. Very little originality can be found after these two eras. The sixties and seventies  housed an era of experiment, creativity, LSD and a lot of revolution. Most of the long haired hippies who were high, naked  and mud drenched at Woodstock  are now bald, beer bellied grandparents with memories. Surprisingly enough many of the relics of that era are still around, attempting to feed off the great nostalgic trend that is sweeping the world. 
   When I first heard that Leonard Cohen was back on the concert route I wasn’t overly impressed. Others of equal calibre were doing it and it wasn’t such a big deal. The photographs that hit he media showed a pathetic looking, ageing wrinkled man wearing a dated hat and suit. So this is what it has come to. In New York there is a group of old-age homers singing rock music and Leonard Cohen is doing his last rounds.
   Then the rumours started spreading. Something magical is happening out there. In one of his conversations on the album, Cohen apologies  for not being dead. I must equally air my apologies for thinking him so.It was only when I finally got hold of the album and DVD of the concert  that I really understood how wrong I had been.
   Leonard Cohen Live in London  boasts 26 tracks and I truly wish there were more. Gone is the rebel poet of the early sixties. The Cohen of today is warmer, more forgiving and it shines in his voice. Though 73 when the album was recorded, in my mind this is truly his greatest work.
   A lot of credit is due to the backing singers   Sharon Robinson and the Webb sisters provide background vocals and band members  Roscoe Beck, Neil Larsen, Javier Mas, Bob Metzger, Dino Soldo, and Rafael Bernando Gayol.
    There are too many moments of magical on this album to properly give it credit, but the awesome renderings of Tower of Song , Everybody Knows, Suzanne and the majestic finale version of I Tried to Leave You are worth the price of the disc alone.
   A point of warning. I played the disk to my elder kids and they hated it which obviously proves something but I’m not sure what.
Live In London – CD

Live In London DVD

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