Review by 21st Century Music - June 2007



Reviewer's Rating: 4.8/10

I’m actually not sure where Illawalla is. I searched it like all good music reviewers would have done in an attempt to shine some light around Glyn Bailey’s latest offering – most appropriately titled “Songs From The Old Illawalla”. So now I have the knowledge, or think I have at least, that Illawalla is a fictitious place created in the mind of Bailey, where the inner sleeve tells me that is also the place where Jacques Brel lives safe and well. Phew, I can rest knowing that.

I actually saw my first clip of Jacques Brel in Scott Walker: 30th Century Man a few weeks back and needless to say he’s quite the passionate singer – the amount of drool and phlegm confirming this to me all too amusingly. I doubt old Glyn is as phlegmy. Sure, he’s got a voice that spans a sustainable range and it has passion at times but it’s not to be put up there with the greats quite yet.

Although, two self released albums in, this is hardly surprising. The likes of Scott Walker and Brel have stood the test of time while simultaneously creating multiple records of debatable greatness, power and solitude. One talent Glyn does have though is his narrative lyric writing which excels to its best in the album standout and closer, “The Ballad Of Deano”. The tale of the rise and fall of a star with added political awareness, it makes for intriguing and redeeming listening with a steady and comfortable build up of instruments that doesn’t lose itself under layers of pretentiousness.

From the offset, the album makes an unnerving and peculiar statement with “Yahoo!”, a spaghetti western style ballad that’s too clichéd for it own good – it even goes “yeehaw”! The album is full of questionable moments like this, which bring into doubt as to the where the album is going. One song it’s recalling a tale of a clown disguised paedophile, the next it’s setting the scene of Zizou at the World Cup Final then going onto school reunions. There are many tales here, some intriguing, some flat and some just plain out of place – “Moonwalkers” being the main one which recalls and names the passengers of the Apollo missions to the moon. It’s a strewn, mechanic pop number, with Neil Armstrong samples (!?) that never quite goes anywhere.

What is odd though, through all the styles and themes this album jumps across, the best ones tend to show themselves when the album is being it’s most expected. For me, “Songs From The Old Illawalla” conjured up images of a desolate old western town in America where everything is like a film with Clint Eastwood but perhaps more taller buildings and maybe a heavily moustached mayor. “The Crow” tells of men’s conflicting emotions and opinions concluding with the slaughter of them all. It could have been a brilliant number if the end of each verse built to more and didn’t go off the rails talking about birds shitting – one of the many odd and discerning lyrical moments on this album.

Part of me actually fears liking this album. Some songs are intriguing and compelling at times but I can’t help but wonder how serious Glyn Bailey is here. Sure enough, his themes of big business, corruption and paedophilia are serious as many can get but not always easy ones to follow or to want to follow despite the tales Bailey covers them under. Sure, he’s got ideas and imagination, it’s just a shame it comes across in such an awkward and confused manner.

By Ray Finlayson - © 2007  21st Century Music