Renascent＜Transparent Yellow Vinyl＞

マンチェスターの伝説的バンド、ザ・ドゥルッティ・コラムによる16年ぶりの新作スタジオ・アルバムがロンドン・レコードから登場!!!
ドゥルッティ・コラムはマンチェスター出身の音楽家ヴィニー・ライリーのバンド・プロジェクト。ジョイ・ディヴィジョンやニュー・オーダーと共にファクトリー・レコードの人気を初期から支えた看板アクト。澄みわたるアコースティックな音色でジャズやアンビエントにも越境しニューウェイヴ以降のロック・シーンの中で独自のポジションを確立、90年代以降はクロスオーバーな時代のムードとも共振しながらリスナーのすそ野を大きく広げ英国音楽界が世界に誇る至宝的存在となった。そんなドゥルッティ・コラムが『A Paean to Wilson』(2010年)以来となるまさかの新作『Renascent』(リナセント=「再生」)を発表。先行シングルの「Liars」は神々しいダウンテンポ・ナンバー。さまざまな困難を乗り越えたどり着いたヴィニの現在地点をうかがい知ることができる。ぬくもりのあるアンビエントな音の広がりに包まれながらピアノやビートが舞う「Agonistes」ではCaoilfhionn Roseが素敵な歌声を聞かせてくれる。ヴィニ・ライリーのギター・ワークを中心に据えながら音響的なアンビエンスと楽曲構造のあいだを自在に往来、随所にドゥルッティ・コラムらしさがにじみ出た快作。盟友キア・スチュワートがプロデュース。アートワークは長年のコラボレーターである8vo。

Vini Reillys groundbreaking art rock project the Durutti Column was highly prolific from its 1980 debut on Factory Records until 2010s A Paean to Wilson, a tribute to the labels late founder, Tony Wilson. After the album was released, Reilly suffered a series of strokes, and dealt with financial struggles, prompting his nephew to organize a fundraising campaign to help pay his bills. He also had difficulty playing guitar, and gradually had to re-learn the instrument, shifting into a much calmer and simpler style than he had previously mastered. He sporadically worked on new material, however, with the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns affording him more time to concentrate on composing and playing. Drummer Bruce Mitchell and producer/multi-instrumentalist Keir Stewart, both of whom had worked with Reilly for decades, remained present for informal recording sessions, which often took place in Reillys kitchen. By the time Renascent, the bands first full-length in 16 years, arrived in 2026, the Durutti Column had been rediscovered by younger generations of musicians and listeners, with Blood Orange sampling them and Harry Styles curating a tribute to Reilly at the 2026 Meltdown Festival. Reillys unmistakable guitar tone is instantly recognizable from the albums first track, making it feel like there was no lengthy gap following the previous album. Still, its obvious that Reilly has endured many hardships as his age has advanced, and theres a poignancy, intimacy, and fragility to the music similar to Ryuichi Sakamotos final works. Even if his guitar playing seems more textural and soundscape-ish than melodic, its still the heart and soul of his dreamlike compositions. The albums other contributors nicely complement Reillys drifting, delicate guitars, with the harp-like keyboard arpeggios of "Time Present and Time Past" standing out as being particularly lovely, and the orchestral arrangement of "For Friends Everywhere" sounding truly elegant. Caoilfhionn Roses ethereal vocals grace the dazy, detached "Agonistes," while shes more upfront over the oceanic pianos of "Sargasso Sea," and album closer "All They See Is Fire" features Lucas Elliots hopeful lyrics over Reillys familiar, comforting guitar washes. Reillys gruff, weathered voice, more spoken than sung, appears on the truly devastating "Liars," in which he breaks down and repeats "I am sorry, I love you," as well as the more rambling, bitter "Scammer." Providing a bit of contrast to the albums more celestial pieces, "Your Shadow at Evening" is a busier, more Krautrock-sounding diversion, with layered, shuffling drums and gated, jangling guitars. Renascent is a powerful, moving, late-career triumph which inevitably carries heavier emotional weight the more the listener is familiar with the musicians back story and discography. ~ Paul Simpson