New Ships to be Built, new work to be done
5 Out Of 5 Stars
Sting's elegy to his father (who had recently passed) is a moody and moving album, dispensing with conventional pop and loaded with images of the sea, loss and those missing. The gently lolling waves that roll through "Island Of Souls" capture the mood of the album perfectly, as 'Benny' dreams of building the perfect ship to rescue his father and he to a magic island that would free them from the drudgery of living in a shipbuilder's wharf-side. Time soon ensnares them both as Benny seems his dreams crash on the water of loss and the never ending need for warcraft.
So it goes throughout "The Soul Cages." The single, "All This Time" reflects on the wisdom of his father as the river washes time away. That it's the most upbeat song on the CD also tells you the artist's mood at the time. The title track, "When The Angels Fall" or the elegy of "Why Should I Cry For You" are all mournful, cathartic works that Sting used to ponder the harder questions of life. Even the uptempo "Jeremiah's Blues" contemplates the end of the world, and it's the poppier song here.
With same gang of jazz and rock vets, along with Sting on bass for a change, the album is a sonic delight (and due for an upgrade, as is Sting's whole catalog). Just be certain, this is an album that may cause the shedding of tears if you're in a darker place.
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