After retiring from touring and overcoming recent health challenges, Elton John has returned with Grammy-winning songwriter Brandi Carlile for the compelling album, “Who Believes in Angels?” Born from their longstanding friendship and mutual respect, the collaboration thoughtfully navigates personal reflection, relationships, and mortality with musical boldness and emotional honesty.
The creative process, documented for the first time in the short film “Who Believes in Angels? Stories From the Edge of Creation,” was not without tension. On The Tonight Show, John admitted to entering the studio without prepared material, initially causing struggles. Carlile echoed these difficulties in an NPR interview but pointed out that such friction ultimately deepened the album’s authenticity and emotional resonance.
“Who Believes in Angels?” begins powerfully with “The Rose of Laura Nyro,” a rich tribute to the influential late songwriter. Its expansive arrangements and dynamic vocal interplay between John and Carlile set a captivating, ambitious tone. Other standout tracks include “Little Richard’s Bible,” showcasing John’s signature vibrant piano style, and the delicate acoustic “You Without Me,” a Carlile-led meditation on familial bonds.
Speaking candidly on The Tonight Show, John praised Carlile’s influence on the project: “The minute she arrived in the studio I fell in love with her. I fell in love with her talent, her voice, but more than that, I fell in love with the person.”
Under producer Andrew Watt’s meticulous direction, the album also benefits from the artistry of musicians Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), bassist Pino Palladino, and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, creating a cohesive yet eclectic sonic landscape.
The track “Swing for the Fences,” highlighted by Carlile in Variety for its empowering message for the LGBTQ+ community, exemplifies the album’s spirit of optimism and advocacy. The album closes poignantly with “When This Old World Is Done With Me,” John’s reflective solo track on aging and mortality, delivered with striking vulnerability and grace.
Declaring this project a career rebirth, John stated decisively, “I don’t want to coast. This is the start of my career mark two.”
In “Who Believes in Angels?”, John and Carlile have crafted an album of profound resonance and remarkable vitality, a testament to both artists’ enduring creativity and willingness to embrace new horizons.
