Late 2012 saw a flurry of activity from
10cc, including the release of an excellent career-spanning box set called
Tenology, but perhaps the most noteworthy development on this front was the release of
Love and Work,
Graham Gouldman's first album in 12 years.
Gouldman dedicates
Love and Work to his late friend and Wax partner
Andrew Gold and that isn't just a matter of sentiment; the album pares back
Gouldman's lingering eccentricities and focuses entirely on his precision popcraft, a skill that's been at the foundation of his music since
the Hollies. Here, the vibe is gentle and reflective but never melancholy, the songs are sculpted but never fussy, the melodies unfurl with an elegant grace. All these qualities speak to
Gouldman's status as a pop veteran, one who is comfortable with his legacy and where he resides now, but the remarkable thing about
Love and Work is how it builds upon what
Gouldman has done before. Much of this sounds as if it could have been a soft rock hit between 1977 and 1982, an era when
McCartney-derived pop often hit the charts, so it has a familiarity but it also has a freshness due to how
Gouldman refuses to chase after a nonexistent hit. He's simply making artful, exceptionally crafted pop, which is more than enough to turn
Love and Work into something of a small gem. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine