Review: Sold On Song
Financial Times / By Richard Milne
Elvis Costello's first word was not "Mama" or "Daddy"
like normal mortals, but rather "skin". As in Frank
Sinatra's I've Got You Under My Skin. This tale was
just one of a series of nuggets served up by Costello
in this intimate nightclub show for BBC Radio 2's Sold
on Song programme.
Interspersing songs from throughout his career and
from beyond with mini-interviews with the husky-voiced
Mariella Frostrup about songwriting, Costello
demonstrated just how literate and eclectic a
performer he is. Those expecting an academic exercise
in quiet torch songs were swiftly disappointed as he
launched into "Accidents Will Happen" and a crunching
"45". Even his sartorial concession to the upmarket
venue - a rather dapper suit and shirt combo - was
soon broken as he loosened his tie.
As befits a man who has tackled everything from punk
to classical, the mood changed swiftly and often as
Costello flitted from one period to another. The songs
were all beautifully arranged, with classical
flourishes from Steve Nieve on the piano and the
Brodsky Quartet, but most revealing were the
dialogues.
"Songs will come to you, wake you up and tap you on
the shoulder," he said explaining the often late-night
genesis of his latest album North. This is among his
most emotionally honest, using sparse piano and his
own hushed baritone vocals to catalogue his
relationship with Canadian singer Diana Krall.
"Someone Took The Words Away" and "Fallen" sounded
particularly fine, with the latter being perhaps the
most romantic song ever written in Oldham.
But Costello also gave deep insights into his writing
in earlier times. The influence of narcotics - good
for songs, bad for life, it seems - was touched upon,
as was his use of the piano to surprise himself
melodically.
Ultimately, it was the strength of what came out of
this process that impressed, whether it was the highly
topical "Shipbuilding", written at the time of the
Falklands conflict, or a rollicking "Either Side Of
The Same Town". "Musical unfaithfulness", as Frostrup
described his career, has never sounded so appealing.
Café de Paris, London 'North' was released on Monday
(Submitted by John Foyle)