Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Who truly remembers what they have kept under wraps, locked away in a dusty cupboard, in an attic that has lain unvisited, a damp and prone to pestilent basement, or the memory remaining dormant, of all they have ever wanted to show the world.
These thoughts, musings, reflections on times when a different kind of breed of star was all the rage in the pop charts, who appealed to a kind of instant hit maker, who were famous for who they knew rather than just being considered great for the talent discovered, are such that they play in the mind when revealed; when that dusty box gives up its long held secret, when the attic becomes a treasure trove of illumination, who knows if they Songs For Cilla To Sing, or for Brian to savour
A discovery of sorts brings Brian Bordello once more to mind as he releases the solo experience of tracks found, never lost, but resurfaced in time for a sense of absorbing, speculative beats captured in the raw, a mono driven introduction before, as with other bands, the full explosion of voice and colour is added to drown out the initial dreams and forceful anecdotes.
Brian Bordello is an artist who is arguably unafraid of sceptics, and that makes his unpolished entries into the subconscious of the fan even more remarkable, for in that bold release, the undaunted and courage filled lyrics stand out; part punk, part narrative, a dash of the fearless communication, an overwhelming sense of passion, comes riding out to meet the listener; and it one that requires no bells or whistles, no announcement to warn of the confidence underscored, for this Brian Bordello at his most natural, scathing, warm, fruitful… that which is forgotten was always alive.
Across tracks such as The Boy Belongs To Yesterday, They Shoot Horses Don’t They, I Want You To Stay, Handsome Jaques, and the excellent Not Such A Bad Girl, that cause de célèbre is pulsing with joy and fierce retort; maybe not the association that Cilla herself would have attracted, but one to which Brian Bordello showcases and brings to attention with vigour, with honesty, with unflinching punch.
Never dismiss what has been put away, that Muse, in all it’s glory, will always return with her flag flying high.
Ian D. Hall