Baxter Dury - 'Len Parrot's Memorial Lift' (Rough Trade)
4/5
By: Toby L
OK - well, it's hardly a secret is it; you can see it immediately in the name... So, yes, it's true - Baxter is the son of the great legend himself, Ian Dury.
Predominantly written during a two-month stay in Texas following his father's death, Baxter's debut-LP is most certainly a headphones-record. And, with sparse and, admittedly, psychedelic arrangements, along with intriguing vocals throughout, 'Len Parrot's...' could well be one of the downbeat-finds of the year.
Although it threatens to become mildly cheery during the acoustic-strum of 'Lucifer's Gain', by the time its sky-high strings hit against a backdrop of perky keys, you could be reduced to tears. More beautiful (and somewhat uplifting) are the following harmonies and atmospheric guitar of 'Fungus Hedge', whilst the genius eeriness of 'Beneath The Underdog' makes for, simply, one of the finest tracks on offer, next to the minimalist ambience of 'Bachelor'.
The work itself only remotely mirrors Baxter's father and his prior material within the dry, gritty delivery of 'Gingham Smalls 2', though, on hearing the sweeping epic grandeur of 'Oscar Brown' - as originally released on a highly-acclaimed EP last year - and the masterful closing of 'Boneyard Dogs', it's clear that we're within the vicinity of a true original. Yet, as it has been said so many times before, all good things must come to an end - and, sadly, for this LP, it comes all too soon, after just nine moody glimpses into BD's often understated, yet subtly overpowering, collection of songs.
It would be a clichι to state how Baxter is a mere chip off the old block, but this seems to be the case - and it's his hymns of loss that make for music's tremendous gain.
Artists in this article: Baxter Dury
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