Squeeze Vox
Glenn Tilbrook’s fourth solo album is a clever pop
collection, some melodies reflecting what the casual Squeeze listener [thinking
of myself] would expect and appreciate, as well as nods to other familiar
precursors.
If you like names, this will engage at that simple level,
with tracks titled Ray, Persephone [OK, this one is less
everyday], Rupert, Dennis, Bongo Bill, Kev and Dave,
and Peter. Like you, I know many of
these people very well indeed.
The album is at its strongest at the start. Opener Ray is most Squeeze-like in establishing
its pop chorus-hook, the acoustic guitar and popping percussion driving it
brightly. Second Persephone begins
with a Tyrannosaurus Rex Deborah-like
guitar and reverse voice and Mickey Finn percussion – all embellished with
accompanying orchestral strings. Third Mud
Island continues this triplet of late 60s pop-culture reference points:
here, sitar and tabla providing the Eastern influence. Fourth Rupert opens with an acoustic guitar
riff which is again, I think, T-Rex inspired/pilfered. Fifth Everybody
Sometimes returns to Glenn’s Squeeze roots, his vocal here as elsewhere in fine
fettle. Sixth Dennis begins with another seemingly plagiarized acoustic guitar riff that is so familiar, the beginning of The Who's Dogs.
It is all delightfully listenable.
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