Music this week

Warner

11.99 on iTunes,rating: HHHH

At 65,Mr Bluesman is out with his 19th studio album. And it makes you wonder what more Eric Clapton,with almost half a century of mojo-building guitar chops and laidback vocal phrasings,can do.

The answer: an eclectic mix of originals,and a charming take on defining numbers by legendary composers. You can appreciate this record in two ways. One,see how Clapton takes you back in time and two,how he transforms old tunes so that they sync into your iPod playlist. From contemplative to pensive and melancholic to upbeat,the slow hand takes you through 62 minutes of classy stuff. Giving him company are fellow veterans JJ Cale,Sheryl Crow and Steve Winwood,among others.

A taste of Crossroads creeps into the opening track Travellin Alone that phases into Hoagy Carmichaels delicate My Rocking Chair and Cales River Runs Deep. Claptons intensity can be appreciated in tracks like Irving Berlins How Deep is the Ocean and the sombre Autumn Leaves. From Cales Everything Will be Alright and Claptons soul-searching tunes on Diamonds Made From Rain and the charged-up Run Back to Your Side,theres something for everyone here.

Mohan Kumar mohan.kumarexpressindia.com