Artist: Simple Minds
Title: New Gold Dream Live From Paisley Abbey
Genre: New Wave
Release Date: 27th October 2023
Label: BMG
Review Flash
In between two tours, SIMPLE MINDS had the idea of performing in its entirety their cult album ‘New Gold Dream’. The originality of it being to be recorded in an Abbey and most of all… without any audience. And I’m really embarrassed with rating this album. The music and sound are terrific, Jim is in great shape, Charlie’s guitar sounds are as pure and crystal as you’d expect and the whole band performs incredibly well… but what’s the point in the end? Does it bring anything new to the cult album released 40 years ago? No! Will it be a solid milestone in Simple Minds discography? No! Should this had been filmed and released on DVD or even broadcasted on YouTube, I would really have seen the point of it. I’m sure filming in an Abbey and seeing the folks play live would have got me much more into it. But how could I rate it badly whereas this album remains an incredible collection of nine perfect songs capture the essence of Simple Minds. So…
Conclusion: Let’s take it as it may just be: a present for fans before Christmas, filling the wait for an eventual new album and the new tour starting in Spring.
Rating: 7 / 10
