But it is to the artistry and craft of his songwriting, as always, that one’s attention is drawn. He manages to combine instantly hummable hook-lines within cleverly constructed arrangements in a way which is beyond most of his peers. Stand out cuts here include, judging from the first five or six listenings at least, the title track itself, ‘Complicated Shadows’, ‘You Bowed Down’ and ‘It’s Time’, but I know the CD will rarely leave my player over the next couple of months, since there are new delights to be discovered and savoured at every turn.
Costello has such a facility at knocking out a tune that it is easy to forget just how good he actually is. This album reminds us once again that Elvis is King.

First published in 46A