Elvis Costello

Hey Clockface CONCORD

His aim is still true.

Some 50 years into his career, Costello is now a kind of pubrock Bowie, with enough changes of style and direction to satisfy the most fidgety chameleon.

Now he releases an album that pays homage to all his directions, new and old, in a way that’s only intentionally jarring. There are crooned piano ballads like the gorgeous Byline, vignettes like Whirlwind and They’re Not Laughing At Me Now, splenetic Blood And Chocolate noise blarts like the splendid No Flag, and spoken-words bits like Revolution #49. If all of this sounds like disassociated chaos, it’s not (except when it is). The 14 tracks add up to a brilliant work full of confidence and ideas, all laid out on a massive canvas of invention and variety. ■■■■■■■■■■