Announced this week as the “Godfather of Rap” on Radio 4, at last there’s a brand new album from Gil Scott-Heron and it’s on XL of all labels; talk about I’m New Here!
It might be a new label but if anyone isn’t new here, it’s the veteran Gil Scott-Heron. But that doesn’t make the new album a fraud, much the opposite as it’s going to in all the 2010 ‘Album of the Year’ listings.
Like the ‘re-discovery’ of Little Jimmy Scott a couple of years ago (then in his early 70s), or even the Buena Vista Social Club before that, the re-birth of Gil Scott-Heron (at 60) is one of the big surprises of 2010 (even to XL!).
What with Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1, Worldwide) presenting Scot-Heron his coveted “Lifetime Contribution Award” this year along with his Album Of The Week nomination, this is some week for the “Godfather of Rap”.
Of course, the mere fact that there’s been no Gil Scott-Heron releases since Spirits in 1994 (and that was after a 12 year absence) makes this one so eagerly anticipated.
So it’d be easy to go overboard on a first hearing. And trust me, I did. And I still am – GSH is one of those guys that you’d pay to listen to him reading the telephone book. Somebody’s has spotted this as there some nice spoken word interludes, particularly ‘Being Blessed’; “If you’ve got to pay for things what you’ve done wrong, I got a big bill comin” he quips.
As a poet that found attention for his outstanding civil rights anthems, he’s lost none of wordsmith elegance in the intervening years, being some 40 year’s after his debut album on the iconic Flying Dutchman label (founded by Bob Thiele in 1969).
The title track, ‘I’m New Here’ is a gentle guitar based folk-blues (Terry Callier/Bob Dylan) that demands a sympatetic listen as you imagine it’s autobiographical; “I’ve got an ego the size of Texas”.
That’s said, GSH doesn’t strike me as a may that’s craving sympathy from anyone. The forthcoming single, a version of Robert Johnson’s ‘Me And The Devil’ will be a shock to old fans of his jazz-funk days as the production is very “now”. Not pure dubstep, but a moody Massive Attack feel with say the impact of Burial when he made his first album, Untrue. It’s cutting edge stuff that’s stayed on the iPod all week.
On that subject, Mr. Peterson implores you to get the vinyl edition as there is a bonus disc with new live studio version of his classics ‘Home Is Where The Hatred Is’ and ‘Winter In America’.
Just because this is so different to what has gone on before, new fans should (must) seek out at least one Best Of and on which, in addition to ‘The Bottle’ and ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’, there should be ‘Home Is Where The Hated Is’ and FLY’s Matthew Daniel’s interview with Scott-Heron’s long time musical partner Brian Jackson HERE).
That said, the best part of this album is that it is not hung up in the past musical triumphs. There’s a Jack Kerouac to Speech Debelle jazz-poem about his growing up away from his parents under the wing of his Grand Mother which you’d think would be too personal but it’s particularly touching for a man of his age (and is probably the best example of his wordsmith-ness).
Gil isn’t new here. He is new here on XL alongside their other artists Dizzee Rascal, Basement Jaxx, Friendly Fires, M.I.A, Radiohead, The White Stripes et al. He is new here, in the now as opposed to his past and he’s fulfilled his own words, “you may come full circle in the new year”. I saw Gil live at Dingwalls back in the day and in truth, I was disappointed at the time (lets say Gil was not at his best that day) but at the start of 2010, once more, he’s the brightest star around.
Reviewed: Gil Scott-Herron – I’m New Here (XL Recordings) Cat. No. Release date: 8th February 2010
Tracklisting:
1 On Coming From A Broken Home (Part 1) (2:20)
2 Me And The Devil (3:33)
3 I’m New Here (3:33)
4 Your Soul And Mine (2:02)
5 Parents (Interlude) (0:18)
6 I’ll Take Care Of You (2:58)
7 Being Blessed (Interlude) (0:12)
8 Where Did The Night Go (1:14)
9 I Was Guided (Interlude) (0:14)
10 New York Is Killing Me (4:29)
11 Certain Things (Interlude) (0:08)
12 Running (2:00)
13 The Crutch (2:44)
14 I’ve Been Me (Interlude) (0:16)
15 On Coming From A Broken Home (Part 2) (2:15)
Links:
gilscottheron.com
www.xl-recordings.com
Gilles Peterson “Gil Scott-Heron on Newsnight tonight “The legendary godfather of rap returns” 10:09 AM Nov 16th, 2009 from TweetDeck
BBC 4: Today: Thursday 4th February @ 0742 : The godfather of rap Gil Scott-Heron is back with his first new studio album for 15 years. The performance poet and singer responsible for hard-hitting songs like The Bottle, B Movie and The Revolution Will Not Be Televised has spent much of the past decade oscillating between jail and rehab centres. Correspondent Mark Coles spoke to the musician about his comeback. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today
Gilles Peterson : 6th January 2010 :: SBTRKT & Sampha Live Set
Gil Scott-Heron – New York Is Killing Me (XL)
Gilles Peterson : 10th February 2010 :: Backstage At The Worldwide Awards
Gil Scott-Heron – Home Is Where The Hatred Is (Acoustic)
Gil Scott-Heron – Winter In America (Acoustic) (XL)
Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here (XL)
jimmyscottofficialwebsite.org
