Paul McCartney's late-career renaissance may have hit another high point. Though his new disc doesn't drop until Nov. 25, you can head over to National Public Radio's website and listen to the exclusive streaming of Electric Arguments, the third collaboration between McCartney and Youth under "The Fireman" moniker.
While their previous two releases were rooted in trance, Electric has the duo more fully exploring McCartney's chameleon-like tendencies, finding compelling artistic expression in a wide range of musical styles. From the heavy, bluesy "Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight" and "Highway" to the spacey tranquility of "Is This Love?" and "Lifelong Passion," McCartney and Youth create arresting, at times surreal soundscapes that are mesmerizing for their complexity. It's an astounding effort that never sounds forced or as if McCartney is just dabbling or indulging in his eccentric side.
In a recent interview with The Stool Pigeon, McCartney said the aesthetic behind the album was "first thought, best thought." Being a Macca aficionado, I know that line was given to McCartney by the late poet Allen Ginsberg. While that strategy hasn't always elicited his best work, it does here, as McCartney finds freedom of expression outside the pop template. It's a refreshing listen.
This article appears in Nov 19-25, 2008.