Review of Painted From Memory Dagsavisen, 1998-09-30 - Geir Rakvaag Translated by Sverre Ronny Saetrum "GOOD AND BAD MEMORIES...." A meeting which transcends even the sweetest dreams has finally come true. Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach met each other when they co- wrote the song "God Give Me Strength" for the movie "Grace Of My Heart" (included as the last track on this album). They then decided to continue their collaboration for a whole album. Bacharach has written 11 new songs which have received lyrics by Costello on the album "Painted From Memory". Burt Bacharach was one of the foremost composers of popular music during the sixties. Together with lyricist Hal David, Bacharach wrote immortal songs like "Walk On By", "I Say A Little Prayer", "Anyone Who Had A Heart" and many others. Bacharach and David were regarded as too "nice" and mainstream to be accepted by rock musicians, but Costello didn't give a damn about being politically correct and performed Bacharach and David's "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" on the album "Stiffs Live" already in 1978. "Painted From Memory" contains classic Bacharach arrangements with brass and strings, and melodies that are a little less accessible, but nonetheless just as sophisticated as his old classics. Elvis Costello's lyrics are, of course in a league of their own. Thus, in spite of the melodies being nice and soft, the record is in fact one of the most painful I've heard in a long time. The lyrics are full of remorse and sadness in describing relationships that contain either one or three persons. Costello sings with great conviction and, and on "This House Is Empty Now", a relevant comparison would be some of the best songs of Frank Sinatra. And on "Such Unlikely Lovers" it's easy to think of Donald Fagen in one of his most inspired moments. "Painted From Memory" represents both melodically and lyrically a consistent longing back to better days, when relationships worked, and pop music could be sophisticated without being MOR. If you're willing to let the autumn-darkness become even darker, this is the record you should hear !!!