Through both his work being the front man of The Commotions and his solo career, Lloyd Cole established himself as one of the most articulate and acute songwriters of the post-punk era. “Guesswork” is a record about the uncertainty of the world as one enters their third act. In terms of song count, it is Lloyd Cole’s shortest, however, it is the longest in terms of minutes but the shortest in terms of word count. This is symbolistic for the authorial confidence that comes with the passing of time. Going beyond Cole’s latest “songs” album, the critically acclaimed “Standards” in 2013, “Guesswork’s” musical style is mostly comprised of electronic sounds. Once Lloyd Cole had formulated a sonic picture of the record he wanted to make, the arrival of each new song gradually brought that picture into focus. His distinguishable voice and sophisticated lyricism invite the listener into the mindset of someone who has reached old age and is coming to terms with this. As Cole puts it: “Because really what have we got to lose?”. At times, the experience of listening to Guesswork is akin to sitting in a sleek, state-of-the-art departure lounge, unsure of quite where you’re waiting to go.
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