When Spotify introduced 'Novum' from 'Procol Harum' in the latest news in 2017, I first thought of a mistake. And then, I had to go to the obvious. This band, which I considered to be already old in the late 70's and which released the 'A Wither Shade of Pale' interplanetary tube just 50 years ago, have just released their 12th studio album; For the occasion, the survivor of the original group 'Gary Brooker' called 'Pete Brown' in for the texts, known for collaborating with 'Cream' (it does not rejuvenate us either !!). And finally, the magic always operates with Gary's intact voice as time had no effect on him. We sail in a universe of songs between 'Bob Dylan', 'Neil Young' and 'Joe Cocker', the progressive side being less present from what was known. The sense of melody is always there with titles like 'Last Chance Motel', 'Soldier', 'The Only One' or 'Sunday Morning' that would have made the tubes at the time and sing to our ears as if they had already been heard hundreds of times. In summary, 'Novum' is still an incredible album of 'Procol Harum' which continues to defy time and fashions to delight us 50 years after their first big tube... | |
