Atmospheric late work

After albums like "Reptile" or "Back home" I did not have high expectations of Clapton's latest studio album - and was very pleasantly surprised! The self-confident title suggests that Eric Clapton holds his first studio album in 5 years itself rightly for managed even when he co-wrote only one song (Run back to your side); it is also the first in which he is responsible as a co-producer. Pop songs like on previous albums will be sought in vain, it has been very bluesy, but the Blues to jump a nothing like "Me and Mr. Johnson", "Sessions for Robert J" or even "from the cradle", for the plate is too relaxed and atmospheric; In addition, some numbers make with light jazz (Rocking Chair, How deep is the ocean, autumn leaves) or even Dixieland Touch (My very good Friend the Milkman, That's No Way to get along, When somebody thinks you're wonderful) for pleasant change. Travelin 'alone had been around for a while in Clapton tour program, and in Hard Times Blues he even plays mandolin.

In "Clapton" some musicians from Clapton's current tour bands besides veterans like Allen Toussaint (p) and Jim Keltner (drums) while, especially Doyle Bramhall II (g), the co-produced with Clapton, and Willy Weeks on bass. The two duets with JJ Cale, River Runs Deep (with short, witty backward guitar passages) and Everything will be alright, I think is successful as much on their 2006er community work "The Road to Escondido". Other prominent guests Wynton Marsalis (tp), Derek Trucks (g) and Sheryl Crow (VOC) that integrate all relevant song, which also applies to the wind and the London Session Orchestra. The result is an inspired, homogeneous, thoughtful and confident at the same time sounding Clapton album with warm sound, which is apparently resulting in a very organic way and can be compared to any of his previous albums. Audiophiles will finally pleased with how little compression manages the production.

Eric Clapton has has long been nothing more to prove, Radio Hits find here no, but that does not matter: the compositional level of 14 songs is pleasantly high, it has been recorded not a single failure, and all the musicians involved had heard fun music. I imagine that when you hear this album during a boring night drive, will later still like to remember this. "Clapton" is the first studio album since "Journeyman" over twenty years ago, which convinced me at a high level throughout. I think I have a new favorite Clapton album.