Glenn Greenhill returns with a fearless & sprawling epic album, "Cognito"
After more than three decades away from the recording studio, Glenn Greenhill has reemerged with Cognito, a sprawling 82-minute, 12-track masterwork that feels both like a culmination and a bold new beginning. Released digitally at the end of August 2025, with a double vinyl pressing scheduled for autumn 2026, the album is a reminder that true artistry only ripens with time. Greenhill, the British singer-songwriter who once carved his path through the 1970s and ’90s before stepping into the worlds of film, animation, and design, has returned with a body of work that is deeply personal, musically ambitious, and unapologetically human.
Rather than leaning on nostalgia, Cognito pushes forward, blending progressive rock, Latin, classical, and pop into a kaleidoscope of sounds that mirror the complexity of life itself. What began as a rediscovery of forgotten demos has been transformed into an odyssey that confronts grief, addiction, mortality, and hope. From its first piano-led notes, listeners are transported into a soundscape where raw emotion collides with meticulous musicianship. It’s a rare kind of record, intimate in its storytelling, yet grand in its execution.
Greenhill’s gift lies in his ability to seamlessly fuse genres without ever losing sight of the song’s heart. At moments, the intricate guitars evoke the progressive spirit of King Crimson; elsewhere, Latin rhythms pulse with the fire of Santana. One track may drift into stripped-back balladry, showcasing the tender vulnerability of his voice, while another soars with rurgency, underlining his refusal to be boxed in. Every piece feels purposeful, each stylistic shift woven into the album’s greater emotional tapestry.
The production is lush but never indulgent, thanks in part to the international circle of younger session musicians Greenhill assembled. Their energy breathes new life into his rediscovered sketches, creating a dialogue between past and present, wisdom and vitality. The result is an album that is as contemporary as it is timeless—a sonic bridge between Greenhill’s storied past and his rejuvenated present.
Lyrically, Cognito carries the gravity of lived experience. There’s a weight to Greenhill’s reflections that can only come from decades of grappling with faith and fear, love and loss. His voice, weathered yet resilient, is the throughline: tender, raw, and unmistakably his own. It brings to mind the introspection of David Sylvian, the sonic elegance of Depeche Mode, and the poetic urgency of Bob Dylan, but remains uniquely Glenn Greenhill.
By the time the final notes of the title track fade, Cognito feels less like a comeback and more like a testament—a declaration that artistry has no expiration date. It is an album that dares, comforts, and inspires, an expansive journey that rewards those willing to take the ride. Glenn Greenhill has returned, not with a whisper, but with a roar.
This is truly one of those records that needs to be listened to uninterrupted with a nice pair of headphones. Go ahead do just that, and make sure to follow along, by clicking those links below. Enjoy!
Like what you read? Follow our social media and playlist for the latest in independent music:
