It is rare that an old dog can learn new tricks. But Lloyd Cole, of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions fame, has done just that. He has released a new record, his 12th, the cheerily titled On Pain, which consists mainly of electronic sounds. One of the tracks, “This Can’t be Happening Right Now” breaks away completely from his wordy, erudite approach to storytelling. Instead, he repeats a single mantra that sits above a meditative synth pulse. The song is utterly mesmerising. The typical Cole jangly guitars have been replaced with synth arrangements that weave in and around Cole’s husky voice and the listener is left to wonder, what is happening? And why can’t you believe it? Just when you feel the song is about some dreadful post-apocalyptic, rear window world, the lightness of the strings and the optimistic pulse of the analogue synths turn the possible meaning on its head and the song ends up being uplifting. Cole shot to fame in the 80s with his sly, gimlet-eyed musings about love and British society, and he has been steadily making similar music ever since from his studio in the US. This latest effort is such a departure from his main body of work because he finally casts his heavy intellect to the side and lets his emotions do the talking.

Cole plays Union Chapel, London Oct 19, 20, 21.

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