review, Subba-Cultcha.com - March 2007

O-kay…so somebody stole the dolorian from doc, reversed into a load of bins and then went back in time with a breeding program in mind intent on combining David Bowie with the Divine Comedy and thirty years later this guy comes staggering out of the mist claiming benefits and royalties off the back of it all.

Musically, this album is very competent, the ex-MP’s assistant from Blackpool has produced a furtive album brimming with different styles, psychedelic organs, acoustic guitars, harmonicas, everything’s thrown in for good measure to produce a folk broth worthy of any kitchen.

With lyrics that are absolute bonkers all crooned out in an undeniable Bowie accent this guy’s taking biscuits left, right and centre. Gripes of business politics are dealt with in ‘Yahoo’ a spaghetti-western homage that critiques the capitalist corporations taking over our world.

‘Kafkaesque world’ opens with a harmonica driven piece before fading into baroque pianos that tinkle along to Bailey’s soliloquoy from a torturer, giving us a rendition of the typical conversation held with his prisoners Lyrical madness is swept along by the jolly-foot tapper of ‘The Crow’ as the moog pedals are bashed along with strumming guitars while Bailey serenades;
“Then he had himself a shit and he saw that it was good, as the shit splashed down on a pot of gold at the edge of sanctuary Wood”, like a pirate shanty that’s stumbled into a sixties revival.

Down amongst the living feels like Dandy Warhols ‘Good Morning’ with warm country rock strings and surging up-tempo drums skipping along to the waves of optimistic Lou Reed inspired Bowie vocals.

Musical Queerness continues with The Clown, the tale of a peado childrens entertainer; “five minutes alone with this dirty loon and they’d cut off his balls with an old rusty spoon.” Accompanied by a lute the Divine Comedy are brought to mind, not for the first time on this album.

This is a coming together of catchy melodies, infectious musical hooks and a nagging assortment of ample rhythms that runs through things, grabbing hold of you right from the start and refusing to let go again until the very end. www.glynbailey.com

This release was published on 19 Feb 2007.

By David Greenhalgh - © 2007 Subba-Cultcha.com