THE ever-busy Costello is more side-career than career these days, and here is another of his collaborative offshoots.
This time round, New Orleans veteran Allen Toussaint is the sidekick for a soulful album of Toussaint numbers and new Costello compositions, songs held together to by images of flooding.
The results are occasionally magnificent, such as the exultant, biting Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?, on which Toussaint's Crescent City Horns are really given a chance to blast, playing alongside Costello's usual band, The Imposters.
Tellingly, that is a rare example of the guest being allowed centre stage; elsewhere, Toussaint is kept in the background, playing the piano, which he does beautifully. Ascension Day, with Costello singing and Toussaint tinkling, is another lovely outing, while the title track sees Costello writing a stirring post-deluge protest song in the Toussaint mould.
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