SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SIMPLE MINDS – NEW GOLD DREAM – LIVE FROM PAISLEY ABBEY

SIMPLE MINDS
NEW GOLD DREAM – LIVE FROM PAISLEY ABBEY
BMG

Simple Minds are a complex band, and a band that makes choices that some may question, but in The Simple Minds World, it all makes sense. Their new album is a prime example. In 2022, Simple Minds released one of their best and strongest albums in their careers, which is saying a lot, given their history. But, Direction Of The Heart was well received by critics, fans, and the general public. Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, the two remaining original members, then made the choice of going into the Paisley Abbey in Scotland, and with their most recent line-up decided to perform their classic New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) album and record it live.

New Gold Dream is held near and dear to the hearts of many fans. When Simple Minds released their fifth studio album, New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) in 1982, little did they know that they had just recorded an album for the ages and one by which all of their future albums would be compared. Many consider it their creative peak and it certainly was a huge success for the band, so re-recording it 41 years later could be seen as a risky move.

Maybe it is risky, but, quite frankly, they beat the odds and have recorded a terrific album. It does not replace the original, but it was never intended to do so. Rather, Kerr and Burchill are so impressed with their current line-up (which has been together for a number of years now) that they wanted to re-record a classic album. This is not an acoustic, stripped-down version. Not at all. But rather a new reinterpretation of the album as a whole.

They have not added any songs (B-sides or previously unreleased songs), but rather have done a straight re-recording. The songs are presented in the same order and, for the most part, the same arrangements, with a few changes here and there. Nothing extremely radical, but noticeable. “Promised You A Miracle” is a bit tamer compared to the original and “Glittering Prize” lacks the power of the original.

And therein lies the problem, as one listens to this album, one cannot help but compare it to the original. Which is very unfair to these new takes on the classics. But those songs are classics and for some of us they are part of our DNA. Kerr’s voice is excellent, and he has the same growl and emotion as he did 40+ years ago. Burchill has never played better, and the band is tight. Sarah Brown’s vocals are certainly a welcomed addition. Some songs, like “Hunter And The Hunted”, have aged extremely well, and the new performance packs a punch. But even then, it is hard to not hear the original in one’s brain.

However, this is an interesting idea and one that pays off. Is it as good as the original, in some ways, yes. But, it needs to be heard as if this band has reinterpreted a classic album, not unlike folk bands have done for decades, and perhaps New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) is the folk of this century now. However one looks at it, it is fantastic to have Simple Minds back in less than a year and this album is certainly a welcome addition to my collection. The news they are embarking on a worldwide tour is equally exciting. One must appreciate that Simple Minds have never done what is expected, and New Gold Dream – Live From Paisley Abbey is proof of that. But it works on many levels and is a brilliant album in its own right.

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