The Leaving Of London (2011)

 
Johnny Kwango - 5:18
Speedboat - 3:58
An Old Vice - 3:39
More To This Than That - 1:48
The Leaving Of London - 3:29
Hold The Fort - 4:10
Why Have You Been Fighting Me? - 3:59
The Divide - 2:51
Reanimation - 6:35
Stupid Circle - 4:23
Son Of a Warm Gun - 5:17
Barely Anthropoid - 3:00
Testament - 3:20
You'll Come - 3:46
Preservation Hill - 4:20
Heavy Hand - 3:05
Too Kind - 8:38
True North - 3:41

CD Woronzow WOO58

Nick Saloman - Guitars, keyboards, vocals
Adrian Shaw - Bass
Paul Simmons - Guitars
Dave Pearce - Drums

Johnny Kwango
Instant Bevis Frond sound washes over you and makes you smile at meeting up with an old friend you haven't seen in quite a while and you realise how much you have missed them. In the middle of the song Nick explains he was trawling through old boxes and found letters about promises made to him back in his past. I guess inspired by when he was packing up to move away from Walthamstow.

Speedboat
drifts in a bit like a follow up to "Drowned" at first with nick remembering when he was underwater and able to breathe but instead of remaining in that vein, the chorus roars off as if the speedboat has suddenly gone full throttle. Great song.

An old vice
is a mid tempo tune with Nick wondering "What can you do when you're caught in the grip of an old vice?" Nicks lyrical skill is a joy and delight to behold as always and this entire album is an awesome display of that skill.

More to this than that
Yet more brilliant lyrics coupled to a tune that initially reminded me of the Jams "Eton Rifles", though this of course is The Bevis Frond in full flight and the similarity is only meant as a reference point.

The Leaving Of London
Is just Nick and a grand piano, something rather unusual for a Bevis Frond CD, but it is hauntingly beautiful and makes you wonder why this style wasn't used so much before, because it fits perfectly, but then perhaps that is the point, this album is familiar yet utterly up to date at the same time. Nick moved out of London a few years ago and this album seems to reflect where his mind is now, having left London and moved to the coast, he seems to be very glad to have got away from the smoke and this track emphasises the point.

Hold the fort
The whole band race into this track with Nick ordering the fort to be held because of a shark attack, but he'll be back after the rain" So is he saying, others should defend and he'll be back afterwards? I can't wait to see the lyrics to this, his wordplay is brilliant. The music is uplifting, but there is an insecurity or perhaps unhappiness to what Nick is singing about,this doesn't stop the band though, who cheerfully continue off into the chorus.

Why have you been fighting me?
An epic and dramatic guitar intro lead into another great song by Nick where he is asking someone why they fight him at every turn, their life isn't that bad, look at what he's done for them "so tell me why...." a really good song this.

The Divide
Nick on accoustic, finds him asking various questions about love and why it fails. Nick sings beautifully and the song is achingly sad with him singing about never being far away from the divide.

Reanimation
A really cool song this, that seems to be about Nick finding his mojo, his way back, whatever. He says he is just glad it is here again and Nick? so are we!!! Really glad to hear you on such excellent top form! Surely a crowd pleaser this one! Can't wait to hear it live with Nick and Paul duelling away.

Stupid Circle
Nick sings on this one that he is "...not meant to be ignored" and on this albums strength, he certainly shouldn't be! This is a great mid tempo song with the ever present excellent wordplay that Nick is so skilled at.

Son of a warm gun
A great bluesy feel to it without it being too obviously blues. To me it has a lovely sixties feel to it, but that could just be me.

Barely Anthropoid
An uptempo rocker here, that takes you away with it, the drums rolling around the speakers and the twin guitars lifting that "It's the Bevis frond" smile onto your face.

Testament
Another acoustic song with the addition of some softly stated keys with haunting lyrics, this time with an eerie feel behind the words.

You'll Come
Is a fast rocker, with a great stuttering guitar during the chorus.

Preservation Hill
A pop song here, with a great hook. Classic Bevis Frond sound throughout. An uplifting love song.

Heavy Hand
A driving riff kicks off this rocker about sometimes being heavy handed in dealing with others.

Too Kind
I may be wrong and this is only my opinion of course, but this one seems to focus on Nicks insecurity about his own musical relevance today. He thanks people by saying they are too kind, yet he also puts himself down, in my opinion unnecessarily. I for one hope that this album proves him utterly wrong about this, we do still love and want his music, we want more and more and yes, we had to wait for this album, but bugger me was it ever worth it!!! What a fantastic, awesome, strong album. Great band, wonderful lyrics and marvellous playing throughout.

True North
Acoustic guitar and piano accompany Nick on this closing number about finding your own true north which will guide you home. Well Nick has clearly found his true north musically, with this album, he has nailed it dead centre. A brilliant combination or rock/pop, happy/sad songs, with exquisite lyrical skill that makes you smile wildly, because our mate has returned! True North is a happy and uplifting song to end. Yes it makes you ache for more, yes it makes you happy to have new Nick Saloman in your CD player or on the turntable but most of all, it is the return of a friend we all missed so much.

The album deserves...NO... demands your attention and the attention of all the people you know. You will not be disappointed, how can you be, this is so good! So buy it when it comes out in October, buy it for yourself, your friends, your work mates, whoever, but get the word out. Nick Saloman is BACK!!!
As you can see, as the album progressed, my smile got wider and wider. This is not a review written by a sychophant or anything. This is written by someone who genuinely loves what Nick does. I am just so happy to hear new material from him I just can't stop myself from grinning! Alan

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