Track of the week for the week beginning 15 May 2023: The kith and kin to One Quiet Night (2003) intimacy is written all over next month's Dream Box from the great Missourian Pat Metheny on what we have heard so far it's true. 'Ole & Gard' is streaming today which is the second track so far from the album to be released on Modern/BMG following the initial 'From the Mountains' that started the ball rolling.

You can tell it's Metheny from about note 1. Gorgeous and up there with his all-time mellow classic Secret Story's 'Always and Forever' from three decades ago however much more lush that shimmering orchestrated track is, 'Ole & Gard' is a Pat tune, long term Metheny head and erstwhile Impossible Gentleman bassist Steve Rodby (who was also with Pat among the Secret Story personnel) is in on the production side involved with the mastering and mixing while sound engineer Pete Karam interleaves the multi-tracking of Pat's baritone and electric guitars on the ballad in such clean and communicative fashion. Do yourself a favour fellow Pat anorak stand in from the driving rain to the place where it's quietest and by now the faltering patter has become only like the most pleasurable lontano. Pull your hood down, get your earphones out, clip them in, zip up your coat nice and snug so nothing seeps in as the last drips descend from the rafters. Where were you when you first heard Pat Metheny, ask yourself. Imagine if you can entering a mind boggling dream consciousness in re. person I knew Bill Evans fashion when the person is another you unhearing all you already have to hear Metheny for the first time with new ears, your reaction today. Pat Metheny, photo: Modern