Singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby has released his latest album, Non-Secure Connection. has been released. The Aug. 14 title LP includes “Anything Can Happen” co-written with Leon Russell, who appears thanks to a demo that he and Hornsby recorded together more than 25 years ago. Listen to the song, plus many others below
The new record follows the release of 2019’s Absolute Zero.
Says a press release, “Hornsby’s music changed when he started having the genesis of his songs be from film music. Through composing for writer and director Spike Lee, Hornsby would often feel that the certain atmospheric quality of a ‘cue’ he’d written should be developed into a song. About this unique approach, Hornsby notes, ‘It takes my music to a place that I like that sets it apart from other things I’ve done. I’m often looking to make a sound that I haven’t heard before and find a place in what I guess is the context of popular song for some new information.’”
Listen to “Anything Can Happen” featuring Leon Russell
Hornsby’s “continued growth as a musician enables him to build upon and explore new musical techniques,” continues the announcement. “On Non-Secure Connection, he’s created something different that touches on a broad range of themes, from civil rights to computer hackers, mall salesmen and the Darwinian aspects of AAU basketball.”
Related: Hornsby took home the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1987
“The new album’s chromaticism and dissonance quotient is exactly twice as high (three songs featuring that language compared to one and a half on the last record),” says Hornsby of Non-Secure Connection in the release. “I feel like my music has never been a part of any trend that defined any era of music during my 34 years of doing this. I may be wrong, but that’s how it feels to me.”
Predominantly produced by Hornsby, the 10-track album includes added production from Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Brad Cook (Sharon Van Etten, Hiss Golden Messenger) Wayne Pooley (Bon Iver, Jack DeJohnette) and Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, Andrew Bird, Aimee Mann), who Hornsby credits as the album’s “aesthetician and ombudsman.” Non-Secure Connection also includes musical contributions from the Shins’ James Mercer, Vernon, Jamila Woods, Leon Russell, Vernon Reid, Rob Moose and Hideaki Aomori of yMusic, The Orchestra of St. Hanks (Frost School/Univ. of Miami), Hornsby’s longtime band the Noisemakers and more.
The tracks “Non-Secure Connection” and “Porn Hour” were co-written with Chip deMatteo while “Bright Star Cast” was inspired by with James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing.”
The 13-time Grammy nominee has solidified his status as a highly sought-after collaborator. Hornsby’s own 21 albums have sold over 11 million copies worldwide, and he has appeared on over 100 records including releases with Bob Dylan, Don Henley, the Grateful Dead, Ricky Skaggs, Bob Seger, Chaka Khan, Brandon Flowers, Bonnie Raitt, Sting, Mavis Staples, Willie Nelson and more.
Hornsby calls the LP’s first release, “My Resolve,” “a Sisyphean tale of the creative life, sung with a fellow climber.” Hornsby tells the website, Bruuuce.com, “I’m a longtime Shins fan. I thought to myself, ‘I don’t know this guy (James Mercer) – maybe I’ll just reach out to him. I’d love to sing this as a duet with someone, and here’s my first choice.’ So I did, and he came in.”
Listen to the single “My Resolve,” from Non-Secure Connection
Of “The Rat King,” sung with Rob Moose, Hornsby says, “That’s one of my favorites. It’s a very simple, triadic gospel piano song. Rob‘s (contribution) is gorgeous – I’ve finally found my Paul Buckmaster, who did the orchestrations on the early Elton John records. Rob is my kindred aesthetic spirit.”
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