Squeeze, even in the days my diet consisted of mainly hard rock were a band I always loved. Glen Tilbrook as far as I was concerned was right up there with lyricism of Ray Davies and the pop sensibilities of Steve Marriott as one of music’s best and most quintessentially English writers. His pen was magic and his storytelling and social commentary could be tear-jerkingly one minute and inspired and quirky the next. That was then of course, and Tilbrook himself has produced many a fine album over the years before Squeeze got back together, and in 2010 released an album of re-recorded versions of their greatest hits on ‘Spot The Difference’. That album eventually led to 2015’s ‘Cradle To The Grave’ which the critics loved.
Fast forward to 2017 and there’s a lengthy tour already underway and a second new album (their 16th in all) ‘The Knowledge’. If anything the new material is both more cutting and somehow more comfortable, and sees the songwriting partnership of Difford and Tilbrook gathering even more steam. The songs are longer too,with a good few breaking the five minute mark,and it’s that expansive approach that gives extra weight to the lyrical content which explores everything from the NHS to mid-life crisis.
Opening with ‘Innocence In Paradise’ is a masterstroke, it’s one of the longer songs that works so well here, building up a head of steam driven by the bass and building to a wonderful crescendo of guitars. ‘Patchouli’ that follows is equally wonderful (and even adds a harpsichord solo), this one is rater light and easy and manages to make you believe that the partnership is back with a vengeance. ‘A&E’ that follows is wonderfully observed social commentary in their own inimitable style and underlined with a big groove, great chorus and plenty of punch; whilst ‘Every Story’ is a wonderful slice of storytelling in the vein of ‘Sir’ Ray Davies.
Deeper in ‘Departure Lounge’ has one of those openings that just makes you smile; and if you want a little spice along with your observations on living on London these days try the disco-fix that is ‘A Rough Ride’. Then there’s the political thrust and languid soundtrack of ‘Final Score’ a song about child abuse that is elevated from the despondent subject matter by an uplifting chorus. One of the many standouts for us though is the acutely acerbic observation of the mid-life crisis that unfolds in ‘Please Be Upstanding’.
The album enters the home stretch with ‘The One’ the only track here that doesn’t really connect so far,before we’re back on track again with another standout ‘Albatross’ which starts off with a riff straight out of the sixties and proceeds to rock with abandon in that enlightened anachronism that is all love and no affectation.
The album closes with the instrumental ‘Elmer’s End’ which is a nice workout, if not absolutely necessary, and a song which recaptures the glory days of their 80’s pop pomp – ‘Two Forks’ which is just damned good fun.
If you’re heading out to see Squeeze on tour to relive your youth then you just might be surprised how fine the 2017 vintage tastes. Can I say that “the past has been bottled an labelled with love?” No? OK then I won’t…
TRACKLISTING: 1. Innocence In Paradise |2. Patchouli | 3. A&E | 4. Every Story | 5. A Rough Ride | 6. Departure Lounge | 7. Final Score | 8. Please Be Upstanding | 9. The One | 10. Albatross | 11. Elmers End | 12. Two Forks
