BMG
Released: November 8th, 2024
“A cinematic take on foundational pop music hits. The Garfunkels convey their love of music and each other through an emotive album whose crescendo with Cyndi Lauper’s classic is hard to beat”
When the door knocks and we are given an opportunity to take a listen to Art Garfunkel, we take it.
Legendary in status, his contribution to musical history cannot be underestimated with this succession of accolades, (13 nominations, 8 Grammy Wins, gold and platinum awards and an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame). He is recognisable as the iconic big-heared presence in half of the duo “Simon & Garfunkel” popular during the modern American Folk boom and ever since. Their songs are like the Roman Colloseum of folk music; stylish and minimal yet ornate and strong in purpose at the same time. Now the wheels of time has moved, and aside from the odd reunion, Simon & Garfunkel have their own projects. Art Garfunkel is still performing and making music and has had a prolific solo career. As he now ventures once again into a partnership, we see that his latest album is an especially personal one.
The new album, Father and Son is a series of duets between himself and his son (Art Garfunkel Jr.) leading on from Garfunkel Jnr. making a splash with his German language music releases and a recent series of live performances alongside his father. Father and Son is the fruits of this collaboration in what is a selection of 12 hits from across the musical spectrum. Their sonic inspirations thread from the 40’s and 80’s and collect around a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s iconic, “Time After Time”. A meeting of minds and hearts, the connection between father and son is clearly strong and the enthusasism to enjoy, love and record each others favourite tunes is a personal idea; one which is the foundation of the feeling of this album.
While the intimacy of shared family is the centre, the sound of Father & Son is not just a personal acoustic one, but rather a sweeping orchesteral experience the brings several to the tracks closer to today. It has the feeling of confidence coursing through and also a large presence. Think of the grandeur in those video shots of Vegas where you see fountains rising together in sequence, usually in front of a prestigious hotel. There is a timeless nature to the songs selected, and input from producer Felix Gauder (Jimmy Somerville), string arranger Davide Rossi (Coldplay), and UK studio master Ash Howes (Kylie Minogue) give the album a broad wisdom from it’s deep talent pool to make it work together. It is like a good beeswax polish rubbed through the grain of a mahogany panel.
In terms of recognisable tracks, there are a good few here with broad appeal. While we are strongly rooted and inclined to the earthly delights of a folk song (either joyous or grim), we are not immune to the pull of pop material that has stood the test of time. We explore some of the tracks that stand out to us in an album that has a laser-like focus on emphasising the grand character of these universally loved classics.
Credit: Sony DSC
Track 2 is the duo’s take on the Don McLean number, “Vincent” (sometimes referred to as Starry, Starry Night). Originally it was an acoustic musing of Van Gogh’s life and wellbeing that came to McLean when reading the artist’s biography “on the veranda”. McLean’s song is guitar led, sparse and introspective; almost how you could project the troubled artist’s mind and temprament to be. When listening to the Garfunkels’ reimagining, there is a sense that the piece has gone from a small gathering where we raise a glass to a full blown National Holiday and associated parade. Each have their merits, and it would have been easy for the Garfunkels to do a straight re-telling, especially with McLeans’s character in this song reflecting Art’s older musical roots. But they don’t, they forge a bigger path. A good way to understand what the added orchestra does here is like considering the original as a day in a gallery considering the Starry Night painting and musing on Van Gogh’s woes. With their version, the Garfunkels aren’t in the gallery, they are in the painting itself. The song weaves and ripples like the iconic swirls in the deep blue sky of the painting as the violins flutter across like night time bats; there is a deep rumble of a leading electro drum which brings the feeling of urgency, of a decision to made. Garfunkel Jnr. takes a page from his father and then a few more with a falsetto voice that is both mellow and direct. Garfunkel Snr.’s voice captures the pain and anguish of the painters mind, and the duo both meld together seamlessly. Catching, “the breeze and Winter blues” in this version is like the cosmic mystery all around at the end of life, of Van Gogh’s conscience and resistance to his unwell mind.
“Father and Son” brings a kind of solemn, retrowave feel to Cat Stevens’ deep but melodically cheerful number about a son petitioning his father to go and seek his own destiny. The sound mix is denser and within it has similar beats and sounds to the countdown of the early bars in Ultravox’s Vienna. Moved just a little bit further along from the 70’s to the 80’s in style, the song is transformed with a sleeker body but retains it’s soul and is an interesting reflection on how, in a different universe, the father and son here could have suffered a similar heartache. The duo’s take on “Nature Boy” has an interesting tonal shift too. Starting it’s track similarly to the inquiring jazz of Nat King Cole it rises to an almost Bond Theme crescendo as it’s orchestra harkens. Garfunkel Senior takes the biggest role here showcasing the versatile, storytelling voice that is well loved world over. “I Won’t Let You Down” on the flipside is a song that Garfunkel Jnr. grasps with both hands and doesn’t let go. Clearly a favourite to him, Garfunkel Jnr. showcases his voice during these choruses and swaps the slight reggae backing riff with chasing violin highlights in a cinematic style.
Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” is the first single release from the album. It is something else. The Garfunkels have already established their rapport and musical heart by this stage (track 5), but there is a special feeling that comes with them both working on this song. It makes us admit something that we would never think would be a possibility; that “Time After Time” works especially well as a two person song. The combination of older and younger voice puts some “meat” onto an already rich and savoury broth of a song. It’s poignancy is not lost, but rather re-explored. As a song that celebrates the intricacies of difficult relationships with a lover, the Garfunkels again (much like with “Vincent”) have molded it into a bigger, more epic number; which is no small feat when it comes to “Time After Time”. Their combination of voices is a powerhouse; with it’s duo of voices, the song is transformed into a song of lifelong love like the protection of a long, successful marriage or the support of a parent towards a blossoming child. The song is a direct reflection of the loving dynamic between the Garfunkels, and whether they realise it or not, it captures the essence and purpose of their albums message perfectly. Their interpretation is punchy like a cask strength single malt that has been aged in a Sherry cask.
We are sure you have heard that phrase, “Go big, or go home”. Garfunkel & Garfunkel here are certainly reaching into high places to put their own stamp on their favourite tracks. Fans of the big band experience will appreciate the emphasis on strings and bigger drum, and those looking for a new twist on a Garfunkel partnership will also smile at this album. Father and son singing together here has distant echoes of the classic partnership that people might be anticipating as Garfunkel Jnr.’s high pitch calls to the gentleness of the classic material. Garfunkel Snr. adds a characterful reverence for the hits too, his voice shines and changes shade like the wonder of an Alexandrite gemstone. Garfunkel Snr. himself says, “I mean, I’m pretty good… but he is better”; that is all in the eye of the beholder, but what is clear is their approach to explore this big world of these songs through the prism of their shared joy is more important than both individually.
If you wish to purchase “Father & Son”, there are many outlets, including from Badlands Online, RecordStore, and Amazon.