Dexys – ‘One Day I’m Going To Soar’

A promising album, which was just about worth the wait

It’s fair to say that people of a certain age have been waiting for this album for a long time. In the 27 years since the band’s last LP (1985’s ‘Don’t Stand Me Down’) frontman Kevin Rowland has faced depression, drug addiction and, after appearing on the sleeve of his 1999 covers album ‘My Beauty’ in drag and heavy make-up, downright ridicule. Now he’s back on familiar territory, it’s hard to tell whether he’s in a better place or not, as this collection of songs veers from horn-heavy upbeat stompers (opener ‘Now’) to lacerating, string-drenched self-analysis (‘Lost’). The frosty/funny exchanges with singer Madeleine Hyland on ‘Incapable Of Love’ and ‘I’m Always Going To Love You’ offer more evidence of the constant struggle between light and dark at the heart of Rowland’s best Dexys songs. While you can’t help but worry about him, it all suggests a promising future for the reinvigorated band. Hopefully the wait for the next record won’t be as long.

Alan Woodhouse

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