RFBX: ‘It’s Genius, I Swear’ Special – Clinic on Leonard Cohen’s ‘Death of A Ladies Man’
By: Clinic
This album rarely gets mentioned, compared to his classic sixties albums like Songs From A Room, which is understandable as it wouldn't make as much sense without hearing those albums first.
The early LPs seemed romantic and yearning but also reclusive and uptight. On Death of a Ladies Man, Cohen sounds like he wants to be at the party, maybe still not happy with the buffet, but at least out of the garrot.
The old acoustic guitar backing is mainly left aside, replaced by wah wah, big choirs, dancefloor grooves and various state of the art 70s production tricks. The album was produced by Phil Spector, who really brought out the unhinged majesty of it. Massive choruses and FM radio stylings were all present and correct.
Songs like 'Don't Go Home With Your Hard On' showed Cohen was heavily boosting the humour side of things and seemingly not too arsed about the consequences. It's a classic disco anthem. 'Memories' also seems to laugh at the idea of preserving your dignity whilst having sex/general coupling. It has an ace burlesque effect to it, where seeing "your naked body" seems more comical than alluring.
At least two thirds of these songs could have been 70s radio hits. Easy listening and seductive, but still bubbling under, the sound of two geniuses deliberately undermining the pop music they've created.
- Clinic release their new LP, Bubbelgum, on the 4th of October 2010.
Leonard Cohen - 'Paper Thin Hotel' from Death Of A Ladies Man
Artists in this article: Clinic, Leonard Cohen