Larry Beckett is a stalwart of the scene. For decades he’s written poetry alongside being a lyricist and arranger, working with the late, great Tim Buckley.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Pauline Clark
For his fifth album, he’s turned his focus onto the work of legendary Belgian singer and actor Jacques Brel, reinventing the artist’s ‘50s and ‘60s chansons in Though We Have Only Love: The Songs of Jacques Brel.
“Up to now, Brel’s songs have not been faithfully translated,” Beckett says. “I wanted to capture both the poetry and the passion of his work while keeping aligned with the original French version.”
The lyrics are what make it such a great album. Beckett does not dilute Brel in any way meaning we get all his bitterness, humour, and theatricality. It’s easy to lose true meaning in translation but that doesn’t happen here. The English still hits hard right from the image-laden first verse of album opener Litany for a Return.
“I already know that awful prayer/When one is crying, the other wins,” croons The Next Lover in one standout moment among many.
Beckett handles the vocals, spoken word, and piano on the album, while long-time collaborator Stuart Anthony joins him on vocals and guitar. The line-up is completed by drummer Mike Hodgkins, bassist Matt Canty, and James Edge who contributes piano, keys and flute.
Together, they transform Brel’s chansons into contemporary alternative rock. Things start jangly before developing into the shimmering classicality of Song of the Old Lovers. The two genres spar nicely throughout, closing out with the soft vibrancy of title track Though We Have Only Love which blends them perfectly.
Through all of it, the beating heart of the album is a theme of love. Brel’s songs meditate on love in many forms, whether it’s lost (Juliet), enduring (Song of the Old Lovers), unrequited (Madeleine), fleeting (The Next Lover), or eternal (I Love You).
That’s not to say that they’re all love songs. Tracks like The Lowlands and The Dove also grapple with the weighty topics of homeland and war, and the variety in Beckett’s selection makes Brel’s career feel even more worthy.
With this new album, Beckett shows himself as an inventive artist who can take classic source material and make it his own. Anthony et al provide able support and their own nuance to the compositions.
You can keep up to date with all things Larry Beckett by visiting his website, or following him on Instagram and Facebook.
Though We Have Only Love: The Songs of Jacques Brel is out now via The Orchard/Sony, available to buy on Beckett’s website and Amazon Music.
