Elton John & Brandi Carlisle/ Who Believes In Angels?

 

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Elton John & Brandi Carlisle/ Who Believes In Angels?

Genre: Pop-rock

Label: WAB Recording/ EMI

Rating: ***

British superstar Elton John had earlier teamed up with the marvellous American singer Brandi Carlisle on the song 'Simple Things' in the 2021 multi-artiste collaborative album The Lockdown Sessions. The song had the Elton stamp written all over it, in terms of vocal construction and piano playing with some great harmonising between the two singers.

The musicians now get together on an entire album Who Believes In Angels?, spread over 10 songs across 44 minutes. Naturally, one would expect the duo to continue from where they left off, but even after a few listens, one feels that isn't actually the case. A few numbers do shine but that is a given. Overall, there are portions that seem too experimental and incoherent, with a few fillers reducing the impact.

Those who've grown up on the Elton of the 1970s may find his trademark sound coming in for the first time only on the fourth song. Of course, the opening track 'The Rose Of Lauro Nyro' has its moments, with ambient textures and a sizzling lead guitar solo making way for vocals after two minutes. The parallel harmonies are perfect, and Brandi is all soul towards the end. But the X Factor is missing, like it is on 'Little Richard's Bible', an uptempo tribute to the rock n' roll legend. 

'Swing For The Fences' is aimed at the dance floor, but lacks a memorable hookline. We then move on to 'Never Too Late', and this is where the quintessential Elton style is heard as he begins, "It's never too late for a wide-open slate, a kiss from a stranger, a thousand first dates". Originally created for the soundtrack of the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, the song evokes memories of the glorious past, though the F word sounds odd coming from Elton in song.

Interestingly, the album is divided into two discs, perhaps keeping the vinyl product in mind. 'You Without Me', which concludes 'Disc 1', is a Brandi solo and is clearly one of the better cuts here. A song about motherhood, it has the lines, "I would follow you around, and carry all your tools; I would know you anywhere, I found myself in you". A smooth acoustic guitar and a faint Fender Rhodes enrich the backdrop. Yet, this would be more suited for Brandi's own album, and seems a bit out of place here.

The title track opens Disc 2, and the classic piano intro is followed by Brandi's vocals after which the harmonies take over. On an introspective note, they sing, "What does it cost to buy your soul back when you die? What are the angels gonna do with you and I?" This is surely an album highlight.

Despite the erratic nature of the tunes. the album is strong on lyrics, with Elton's old-time partner Bernie Taupin joining him, Brandi and producer Andrew Watt in the songwriting. While 'A Little Light' has lines of hope and positivity, the Elton solo finale 'When This Old World Is Done With Me' is an autobiographical reflection of the past, of going through ups and downs and thoughts of mortality. It's a song that leaves you with a tinge of sadness, as he sings, "When this old world is done with me, when I close my eyes, release me like an ocean wave, return me to the tide".

An interesting feature is the presence of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and the band's former member Josh Klinghoffer on keyboard-synthesisers all through and electric guitar on the opening track, with producer Watt also on guitars and other instruments, and Pino Palladino on bass. Expectedly, Elton's piano shines throughout, and the inputs of both vocalists is consistent.

So what's missing? Pretty obviously, a song that stays on as an earworm, or a timeless tune like 'Candle In The Wind', 'Sacrifice' or 'Circle Of Life'. Or even something as charming as their earlier duet 'Simple Things'.



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