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Don't panic, it's not a ballet or a string quartet, but Costello sounding more Attractions-like than he has in over 20 years. These 12 songs were recorded in a week back in February, and The Imposters seem galvanised by Costello's songwriting frenzy. The thundering drums and bass of Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher provide the guts, while Steve Nieve displays supernatural cunning on keyboards. It's Nieve's demented organ vamp that fires the tyre-squealing "American Gangster," while his clanging piano in "Song With Rose" evokes Springsteen alumnus Roy Bittan. Meanwhile Elvis rasps, rages and thrashes his Les Paul, pumping it up on "Go Away" and discharging both barrels in "No Hiding Place." But there's space for introspection, too, as in the McCartney-ish, music-hall like "Mr. Feathers," or the wry rumba of "Harry Worth." Fatherhood, hymned in "My Three Sons," obviously agrees with him.
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