It takes a lot of humor to name your comeback album I'm New Here after 16 years. Gil Scott-Heron was already a big name in the black community in the 70's when he wrote the soundtrack for the black civil rights movement in America with his spoken-word songs together with Brian Jackson.
He returned in 2010 after spending several years behind bars due to his cocaine use. As soon as he was released on parole, he had himself photographed on television with a crack pipe. As a result, he violated the conditions of his parole and had to go back to prison.
I'm New Here is an album that is only 30 minutes long but stands out from this year's releases. It is an album that celebrates the blues, but also integrates influences from trip-hop. dubstep and slow beats.
The songs fluctuate between harrowing acoustic blues on I'm New Here and a handclap of gospel on New York's Killing Me to make Robert Johnson's Me And The Devil sound like a Massive Attack song.
The album is his testament, as he passed away just under a year later. But it's good that he was here again.
Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here
Gil Scott-Heron - New York's Killing Me
Gil Scott-Heron - Me And The Devil
Gil Scott-Heron - Your Soul And Mine
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