It’s hard to believe that in the 56 years he’s been involved in the music business, Leonard Cohen has only released 11 studio albums. They have, however, been great albums, each a tome of musical poetry brimming with lyrical wit, appealing (though not necessarily mainstream) melodies and the Canadian poet’s unique gravelly vocal timbre.

In recent years, Cohen has busied himself more with spiritual matters and, where music is concerned, a tasking live schedule that has seen the 77-year old perform a 246-date world that started in 2008 and stretched out over a three-year period.

And if that wasn’t enough, Cohen even found time to release two live albums and a live DVD while on tour, which more than justifies the break he’s given himself since the tour ended in 2010.

Until now, that is, because in two weeks’ time, he will be releasing a new 10-track album.

Titled Old Ideas, because a couple of the songs had been written around four years ago, the new album is Cohen’s first studio release since 2004’s Dear Heather. It was produced by Patrick Leonard, Anjani Thomas, Ed Sanders and Dino Soldo.

Two of the songs, The Darkness and Lullaby, also featured during Cohen’s world tour, while a third, Show Me The Place, is available for streaming at www.leonardcohen.com.