It was known that legendary dark troubadour Leonard Cohen had health issues, but the news that broke this morning still remains very sad. Leonard Cohen is no more, he passed away at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 82. The sad news was announced on the singer’s Facebook page and confirmed by his son Adam Cohen.

Despite his health issues Cohen did finish a new (and excellent) album, “You want it darker”, which offered some of his darkest work ever. It was also why Side-Line reported about it, despite some less eclectic readers wondering ‘what this old guy’ was doing in our news. It goes without saying that many artists from this scene are very familiar with Cohen’s work as his lyrics and musical atmospheres did inspire many despite being from a completely different background.

Martin Gore for instance made an excellent cover of “Coming back to you” for the 1995 tribute album “Tower of song – the songs of Leonard Cohen”, an appropriate song to celebrate the genius of Cohen.

Side-Line chief editor Bernard Van Isacker had a special bond with his music: “Ever since my parents introduced me to Leonard Cohen at a very young age, I have always felt that he was my musical companion in life. I’ve seen him live a couple of times, have a whole range of bootlegs from him, all of his records too of course, and I basically can’t get enough of his work which is so intense yet so relaxing to listen to. What many people don’t know is that next to music, Cohen was also a writer. He published the poetry collection “Flowers for Hitler” in 1964 and the novels “The Favourite Game” (1963) and “Beautiful Losers” (1966). I have all the first editions at home. His work as a writer is quite enjoyable but the sales were apparently very poor (not that that ever stopped me from buying something). Although I ended up in this electronic scene, I still feel that his songwriting and lyrics writing are unmatched. His death shocks me although I knew he was not well. I hope that my other hero Clint Eastwood will still live for a couple of years because I get the same warm feeling when I see Clint acting or Leonard playing live… A truly sad day which has the same effect on as when the comic authors Bob De Moor, POM and Hergé died. I see my companions de route dying one by one.”

Enjoy Cohen’s latest album below, a “chef-d’oeuvre” according to Van Isacker:

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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Leonard Cohen, will be releasing a brand new album on his 82th birthday. The album, called “You want it darker”, is already (or actually only) his 14th to date and will be out via Sony Music later this Fall in a production by his son, 44-year old Adam Cohen.

The album will probably be his last one and that is also what Leonard Cohen hinted at when writing a farewell letter to his 1960’s muse, the Norwegian Marianne C. Stang Jensen Ihlen who died on July 28, 2016. Cohen: “Well Marianne it’s come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine. And you know that I’ve always loved you for your beauty and your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you know all about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road.”

Leonard Norman Cohen is a Canadian singer, songwriter, poet and novelist. He debuted with the album “Songs of Leonard Cohen” in 1967 (including the hits “So Long, Marianne” and “Suzanne”) and since then only has only released 12 other albums. He always has stayed faithful to Columbia/Sony Music during his 50-year long career.

Tracklist:

1. “You Want It Darker”
2. “Treaty”
3. “On the Level”
4. “Leaving the Table”
5. “If I Didn’t Have Your Love”
6. “Traveling Light”
7. “Seemed the Better Way”
8. “Steer Your Way”
9. String Reprise/ Treaty

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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