The world hasn’t heard any new music from Paul Simon since he released his last album, So Beautiful or So What, in 2011. In a few months time this will change because the 74 year old musician spent the last 5 years patiently crafting a new album titled Stranger to Stranger. The album will be released on the 3rd of June by Concord Records and will be supported by a nationwide tour.
One question that comes to mind is whether there is any need for Paul to release new material and whether it will be different from his previous work. The answer is a definitive ‘yes’! Paul has never done the same thing twice; There Goes Rhymin’ Simon is distinctly different from Hearts and Bones, Songs from the Capeman is miles apart from You’re the One, and Surprise is far removed from his magnum opus Graceland. So it’s safe to assume that Stranger to Stranger will bring its own distinct sound.
Paul has a unique way of expressing feelings and thoughts in a powerful way that the ordinary man cannot. He has a knack for perfectly blending different musical influences into one beautifully polished product. The lead single Wristband, is out now and it seems the new album will have a different sound as expected. “There are a lot of preconceptions [about my new work] because I have been familiar to the public for 50 years,” Paul told Rolling Stone magazine. “They go, ‘Is it going to be Graceland? It is going to be ‘Me and Julio Down The Schoolyard?’ Simon and Garfunkel? The Capeman?’ To get people to listen with open ears, you have to really make something that is interesting because people are prepared for it not to be interesting.”
Paul produced the album alongside his musical partner Roy Halee and the musical influences are many and varied. Wristband for example has a jazz influence which is evident from the time the first bass note hits. Other tracks have fusions of electronic music, African sounds, Peruvian drums, synthesizers and horns. There are also two instrumental tracks on the album. The complete tracklist is below.
Stranger to Stranger – Track List:
The WerewolfWristbandThe ClockStreet AngelStranger to StrangerIn a ParadeProof of LoveIn the Garden of EdieThe RiverbankCool Papa BellInsomniac’s Lullaby
You can preorder it on iTunes or Amazon. You can also listen to Wristband below.
