review, LostMusic.co.uk - March 2007

Glyn Bailey is one man. Glyn Bailey has just released 'Songs From The Old Illawalla'. It's his second release. And it's one of those CDs that you inadvertently end up playing a few times. Why? Because it really is all over the place - jumping from style to style and that means you want to give it time to get to the heart of it.

I am gonna start this review with a gripe - Glyn has a voice that's as close to David Bowie as you can be with out being a tribute artist. Despite this misgiving 'Songs From The Old Illawalla' is an LP that hangs together rather well. It has a sense of adventure that makes it endearing.

Opening song 'Yahoo' comes across like a forgotten spaghetti-western theme tune. And that sets the tone for the LP as it twists between the odd, the offbeat and the catchy.

There is something intrinsically British about Glyn Bailey and his offbeat take on pop music. In another time - he'd have be a cult hero. I guess he still could be. On 'Kafkaesque World' you get a song that could fit in Stephen Merritt's Magnetic Fields persona. 'The Crow' comes over like a low budget Nick Cave, without the brevity. After repeated listens the influence of Nick Cave on the songs can not be denied and that's no bad thing.

Even football gets a mention in the 'Zizou's Big Day' - retelling the story of Zinedine Zidane last appearance in the World Cup where he headed butted an Italian defender in the chest. Bizarre, certainly. But it's fun.

The sounds and songs that fill 'Songs From The Old Illawalla' are good enough for repeated listening. Saying that, I am not sure it's an LP that I will play all that often - but when I go get the urge - I know it will be 50 minutes well spent.

Contributed by: tmc - © 2007 LostMusic.co.uk