It
takes a real legend to produce an album which could possibly be
his best yet after six decades of a career that has seen his
music become so well known across the planet that he is a
household name. Whilst the likes of McCartney are still stuck
in ' Mull Of Kintyre' land and even Stevie finds it hard to
better his efforts of the eighties, we have a new album from a
master craftsman that attempts new heights not just in song
composition but also socio-political comment.
Whilst the signature
Bacharach trademarks, such as the gentle rthymns, beautiful
melodies, full orchestration and flugelhorn are all there,
Bacharach chooses to drive himself forward with some
of music's cutting-edge stars. Elvis Costello guests on 'Who Are
The People' which questions the motives of the world leaders and
is one of the album's standout tracks. Bacharach himself takes
to the mic on the poignant 'Where Did It Go?' and whilst his
voice is certainly not one of the best, his vocal vulnerability
adds to the feel of overall sadness of the passing of time and
the uncertainties of the future for our children. 'At This
Time' is a themed album presenting the listener with an often
cynical overview of life. But with Bacharach there is always the
beauty of his music and as he himself says in the album's
closing track "I know that love is never far away. Always
taking aim."
