2023-10-02 14:32:49
Wilco’s new album “Cousin” is an experience of musical diversity and creativity – a pop work of art that is great fun. Definitely a highlight in the Chicago band’s discography.
Berlin.
Originally classified as alternative country, Wilco have been pushing musical boundaries for years, extremely idiosyncratically and in all possible directions. You don’t always have to love the result, but it never gets boring. After the band returned to their roots with their last album “Cruel Country” (2022) and thus delighted the hearts of many fans, they are now taking a turnaround with their 13th studio album “Cousin”.
Although frontman Jeff Tweedy has been producing albums by a number of music greats himself for years – from Mavis Staples to Richard Thompson to Rodney Crowell – they are still working Wilco Here, for the first time in a very long time, we are relying on outside help. And she could hardly have made a better choice than the Welsh musician and producer Cate Le Bon, as all ten songs on “Cousin” show.
Sophisticated songs and lots of surprises
On the opener “Infinite Surprise”, which suddenly arises from sound noise, layer after layer of sound is placed over Tweedy’s hoarse voice. “It’s good to be alive, it’s good to know we die,” he sings, before the disturbing piece gradually dies out under disharmonious guitar howls and in the end only leaves behind noise.
The band has been working on the songs for a long time. More than a year ago – when “Cruel Country” was released – Tweedy announced “Cousin” as an art-pop album. “I think the record is going to blow people away,” he said in an interview at the time. That wasn’t an exaggeration: every single piece is artfully arranged, sometimes orchestrally opulent, sometimes sparse – from the thoughtful ballad “Ten Dead” to the single “Evicted” with its dark beach feeling to the brittle, rocking title song “Cousin “.
The mix of genres shows the quality of the band, which seemingly effortlessly creates unique sound structures in which every note has its place. The way she makes the heavily arranged pieces appear so simple is great art. “The amazing thing about Wilco is that they can be anything,” says producer Le Bon. “They’re so versatile, and there’s an originality that runs through everything they do, no matter the genre, no matter the feel.”
This is particularly clear in “Pittsburgh”. An acoustic guitar, initially plucked almost timidly, is suddenly drowned out by a bombastic wall of sound, which allows the piece to float along majestically and lazily before disappearing again, leaving room for Tweedy’s fragile voice, which is later replaced by a groovy jazz part.
The band saved the real surprises for last. The lively West Coast-tinged “Soldier Child” with Western flair is an unusually conventional catchy tune for Wilco, beautifully staged with a subtle guitar solo. As if that wasn’t enough, the band follows up with the closer “Meant to be”, a carefree, flawless pop anthem with a disco beat. And when Tweedy sings “Our love was meant to be” at the end, over and over again, driven by galloping drums, then – after all the world pain that preceded it – it is pure relief. (dpa)
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