From Manuel Jahnel, Grmany:
"I've got an newspaper article about Mr. Cohen and "Dear Heather". I've found it in the "Südkurier" on Saturday 30th Oct. I think it's quite good. There's no author mentioned. I've translated it but I don't know if I've get it right. Translating German into English is not my "hobby". I've a scan of that article if it is desired (there's a nice little picture saying: "Cohen, the connoisseur"). This is my translation:
Wise Cohen
New CD „Dear Heather“ conjures cheerful love
No he is 70, Jikan, the silent one, how he’s calling himself since his time in the monastery at the end of the 1990ies, the Leonard Cohen. Three years ago, on his album “Ten New Songs”, he had put to music what was going through his mind and body during his time with the monks above Los Angeles in a very intense and highly melodic way. After that there was silence, no Concert, just a CD with old live songs – a bad time for the fans. Jikan did not come up with something.
That’s over now. “Dear Heather” was released these days, songs that he must have given to himself as a present for his birthday in September. The mystery of life and the meaning of love are his topics – cheerfully he sings, no he speaks that, as it is due to someone with 70, what he is entitled to. Calm he had let Anjani Thomas have many musical arrangements, this woman is a stroke of luck. The meaning of love – for the Canadian prosaist nothing intoxicating anymore, it’s rather more relish, more contemplation than desire. Once his critics have called him carelessly the godfather of gloom. Once. “Dear Heather” will not please all the people, not them who still have “Suzanne” in their heads and think, the candles have to go on to Leonard Cohen and the girls begin to smooch. From Leonard Cohen 2004 one can learn more for his life. One just have to listen to Heather in the right way.
best wishes from Germany
Manuel Jahnel"