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Glyn Bailey's press release states that his sound is unashamedly retro. They should also add that it is unashamedly good.
The genre of singer songwriter was with a few exceptions, traditionally free from major label meddling, too hard to pigeon - hole or classify, too personal or obscure in its subject matter. Finally, they've caught up. It is now almost impossible to avoid the tedious warblings of James Blunt or the aural Horlicks of Katie Melua.
From Bob Dylan through to David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Warren Zevon and more recently, KT Tunstall to name but a few, the intelligent singer songwriters have had to plough their own furrow albeit with huge rewards for the listener prepared to invest a little time and effort. These artists tend to do their best work outside the constraints of a band, preferring to get their music out in a way that remains free of compromise rather than having been decided by committee. Once he had emerged out from under the long shadow of Lennon & McCartney, George Harrison did arguably his best ever work with 'All Things Must Pass' likewise Aimee Mann on her solo debut 'Whatever', a thinly veiled diary of having been mauled by the majors whilst being part of an MTV - friendly outfit. Glyn Bailey is that kind of artist.
Glyn covers a bizarre range of topics in a variety of styles from marital abuse (He Says She Says) to communist picnics (L'Humanite) taking in Laurel & Hardy, love, guilt, jealousy and cannibalism along the way. 'East & West' tells the tale of a relationship breaking down as seen by the child caught in the middle and captures perfectly the anguish and confusion; the emotions painted in the broad, simple brush strokes of a child's understanding. Another, 'Missing', is a haunting, raw song about loss, the singer's nerves fully exposed. It is sad and beautiful, a requiem for a lover. If that song doesn't move you, I'd check your pulse. There's plenty of humour as well, from the surreal to the bone dry; similar to Loudon Wainwright III at his most tragicomic.
Yet for all its introspection, this album is full of great swaggering rock songs, 'Don't Just Sit There (Do Something)' and 'My Love Is Out In Space' contain some great dirty guitar riffs and distorted synths. The album's highlight is the cannibal tale 'Part Of Me' with Bailey evoking just the right amount of creepiness and dark comedy, the vocals both Thin White Duke sinister and charming.
The quality is good throughout, much more so than you would expect from a relatively unknown artist considering some of the patchy efforts released recently by the more well - established players.
Glyn Bailey is currently touring the album but if you miss that you can catch him fronting DR ROX, one of the North West's best rock covers bands.
The album 'Toys From Balsa' is available direct from glynbailey.com or from www.CDBaby.com.DSG