#54: the lute's magic

Sting's new album "Songs from the Labyrinth" is a breath of fresh air .... the lyrics, the melodies, and the sounds. They aren't his own; he's sung verses of the Elizabethan composer John Dowland.

Some critics claim that this version does not do justice to Dowland's works, nor does it reflect how these pieces were sung some 400 years ago. Maybe. But all credit to Sting for stepping out of pop-comfort-zone. He's brought this composer back from the forgotten pages of history. I had never heard of Dowland, far less his ballads. The songs are moving – particularly "Come Again". And sung by one of my favourite musicians, well that's icing on the cake.