Earlier this year the newly reformed Dexys released their fourth album 27 years after their last. For anyone wondering what all the fuss was about you need to go back and check out their still mighty debut, SEARCHING FOR THE YOUNG SOUL REBELS,
As album starts go its pretty audacious one and could only come from a bandleader as cocksure as Kevin Rowland. It's a statement of intent, Dexys had arrived and were here to take the throne. It begins with a radio being tuned. We get snatches of Deep Purple, Sex Pistols and The Specials before the radio is turned abruptly off. Rowland calling to his trombonist "Big" Jim Patterson and his crew of Midnight Runners...
"Big Jimmy!"
"Yeah"
"Now!"
"Yeah"
"For godsake BURN IT DOWN!"
And in blasts the brass. It's a thrilling start. A northern soul kick delivered with punk rock aggression. Very much inspired by the Punk ethic Rowland felt that great soul could be sung and played by anyone, even those without a "classic" voice like himself, all you needed was emotion and conviction, something Rowland had in spades. Rowland's raw emotional crying vocal style is not for everyone but you can't deny It has drama and soul.
The distinctive sound and their New York Dockers aesthetic was all part of Rowland's determination that the band not "become part of anyone else's movement. We'd rather be our own movement". He wanted to represent something unique and "a formed group" not just a bunch of random musicians. Not only did Rowland ruthlessly enforce the dress code, inspired by Scorsese's movie Mean Streets, as things progressed he also made his band do group exercise regime: "The togetherness of running along together just gets...that fighting spirit going". And on the album that group aggression really comes through musically. Just like the Pistols and the Specials, Dexy's are against the world and will fight all comers.
The bolshy brass of opener 'Burn It Down' is followed swiftly by the thrilling singalong 'Tell Me When My Light Turns Green' and then the militant instrumental 'The Teams That Meets in Caffs'. Also featured is the stomping UK Number 1 single 'Geno' dedicated to British based American Soul singer 'Geno Washington'. Rowland sings "I can feel the desperation" as music builds into the chorus with an equal sense of urgency. Such an exciting song. Its followed by the brilliant desperation of 'Seven Days Without You'. The album is rounded off in euphoric fashion by the air-punchingly good 'There, There, My Dear'.
'GENO'
'SEVEN DAYS WITHOUT YOU'
'TELL ME WHEN THE LIGHTS GO GREEN'
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