leonardcohenforum.com

I have posted a temporary page for those who are interested
in Leonard's forthcoming new album
Use the link on the front page of The Files or go
directly to http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/ny-heather.html

Jarkko

I love the Tennessee Waltz. I am really looking forward to the release of this CD. Shame about calling it "Dear Heather".

Who is Heather and what does that signature say "Leonard ard Cohen" or "Leonard and Cohen" verrrrryyy strange

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[i]This is a paste of my original post under News about the NYC event, before Jarkko asked us all to post to this forum.

Just returned from New York, where we were treated to one Hell of a fabulous show Friday night at the Knitting Factory -- Perla Bettala, Julie Christenson, Paul Ostermayer and surprise guest appearance by Bob Metzger, as well as some outstanding work on the piano, drums and base. One of the best concerts of my life. Julie's amazing "A Singer Must Die" and Perla's " Bird on a Wire" were outstanding moments. Paul Ostermayer was just simply outstanding all night long.

To top it all off, Saturday we were treated to a taste of Leonard's yet-to-come new CD by his producer Leanne Ungar, and Lorca Cohen was with us. Amazing, surprising, VERY different stuff. I can hardly wait.

This was my first event, and one I am eager to repeat. Wonderfully realized and planned -- fabulous booklet and poster, and Leonard himself sent us all gifts of special Cups of Mercy and the Book of Mercy. So generous. I am overwhlemed. I am exhausted!

I believe it is signed "Leonard and Lorca". Leonard's daughter Lorca was there the evening we heard it, and I'm pretty sure they share a home.

I just went to Jarkko's site and I am chinging my mind. I think it is Leanne after all. Apologies.

What a beautiful painting that is on the cover. I really love these simple but lifeful artworks by leonard

Peter

Can any of the blessed who have listened to the songs tell something about the production. Is it again a synth-record, or more like the old ones?

Peter

Does anyone know if the song Undertow is his original composition or a cover of Suzanne Vega's song on her first album?

The songs are very much like TNS, Leonard more the narrator than the singer. Some Jazz-Elements here, a few more guitars there, and the ladies (Anani and Sharon) adding vocals. The title song "Dear Heather" itself appears more lively, refreshing somehow after the other songs row the boat with a gloomy mood.

Eija and I were sitting in the first row next to the loudspeaker, and the
sound was quite distorted. Also, if you hear eight new songs in a row
(and are very excited) without seeing the lyrics, it's a bit difficult to
give exact comments. However, we found some of the songs quite
TNS-like, while the others were totally different, one or two of them partly
experimental. I asked Leonard before the Event whether he will be
using synthetizer backgrounds or "live" instruments, and he said
everything else has been used except kitchen sinks. There is much
more guitar than on the TNS, and also oud, jews harp, and so on.
He uses also spoken word (like Villanelle for our time).
The last song, Tennessee Waltz, is a live recording from his 1985
tour (he wrote some new stanzas to this traditional song). As always
with Leonard's songs, we have to hear them several times to
find all the subtleties... Anyway, we loved the songs and believe that some of them will become new Cohen classics...

That sounds great jarkko,

At first when I heard the songs from TNS - on the files actually, and with a heart beating with joy, so much that it in fact did hurt - I really felt that this was a clear, bright and honest sound. I felt, and still feel that the nakedness of the TNS production welcomes the words and the voice of Leonard (and sharon).

However I very much look forward to the added elements to that sound. I always treassured the arrangements on Recent songs, so this will be exciting.

I look forward to this release so much that I almost get exhausted. I have been mailing anyone I know, and have told all my friends about it. Would you imagine, some did'nt even have tears in their eyes when I told them.
How ever in our concerts I will - after the release -always end the last song with the words :"And by the way, Leonard Cohens new album Dear Heather is in the shops, it actually is in the shops, dont buy food, buy that record"

Peter

We [Margaret, Lightning, and I] also sat in the front row, at the opposite end of the table, and in front of the other speaker. As I listened to the distortion, I also wanted to be able to read the lyrics [a given for me, regardless]. However, I loved the 'experimental' sound, sometimes kinda jazzy, other times like poetry set to music. I look forward to hearing and reading it all, at my own pace. For new songs, they came all too fast to be able to take them in, in the way you would most want.

However, I can confirm that it's "Leonard and Leanne" ~ being in the front row, it was easy to comment to her that it's great seeing her back on his album. With the copy of the album 'cover' we were given, I noted that the signatures were xeroxes. She was happy to sign it 'below' and did so with "Leanne for real!"

~ Lizzy

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John, I agree with you! The title of "Dear Heather" is excellent and so is the song.

-Sean
http://www.livejournal.com/users/passthrufire