Half Man Half Biscuit - Trouble Over Bridgwater
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 17 / 12 / 2001
Label:
Probe Plus
Format: CD
intro
Each of the members of Half Man Half Biscuit's approach to recording is experimental. Rudimentary songs which, however, do not sound garagey end up as small punk ballad masterpieces on 'Trouble ove
Each of the members of Half Man Half Biscuit's approach to recording is experimental. Rudimentary songs which, however, do not sound garagey end up as small punk ballad masterpieces on 'Trouble over Bridgwater'. On everyday rock instruments Half Man Half Biscuit's performances are pretty exceptional, and in a sense they are like a kind of a sarcastic top 40 cover band. Clever tossers with a great talent for impersonating pop characters would, however, probably be too negative a description of the inimitable Half Man Half Biscuit Sound Of Music. Lead singer Nigel Crossley is one of the greatest lyricists of today but calling his method of proclaiming stories rap would drive Eminem fans up the curtains. There is no way of labelling this as spoken word either though. "Trouble Over Bridgwater" has true melodies, and also catchy choruses. There's summer fun slagging of traffic jams on 'Bottle Neck at Capel Curig' and rightly hearted cynicism about 24/7 shops in '24 Hour Garage'. The tunes in the meantime are excellent. Have Half Man Half Biscuit got news for you? Very much so ! Each cloud has a silver lining on "Trouble Over Bridgwater".
Track Listing:-
1 Irk The Purists2 Ufington Wassail
3 Third Track Main Camera Four Minutes
4 Nove On The Sly
5 Ballad Of Climie Fisher
6 Gubba Look A Likes
7 Mathematically Safe
8 With Goth On Our Side
9 Used To Be In Evil Gazebo
10 Slight Reprise
11 It's Clinched To Be Cynical
12 At Christmas
13 Visitor For Mr Edmonds
14 Bottleneck At Curing
15 Emerging From Gorse
16 Look Dad No Tunes
17 Twenty Four Hour Garage People
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Half-Man-Half-Biscuit/52535858893Label Links:-
http://www.probeplus-store.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/Probe-Plus-Records-282266208481556
http://www.probe-plus.co.uk/
features |
Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2014) |
In our series, in which our writers write about ten songs that made them love a favourite band or artist, Anthony Dhanendran writes about his favourite songs by satirical rockers and John Peel favourites, Half Man Half Biscuit |
reviews |
Urge for Offal (2015) |
Exhilarating combination of skiffle punk and wit on latest album from Half Man Half Biscuit |
CSI : Ambleside (2008) |
Editor's Recommendation (2001) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Flaming Stars - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Kula Shaker - Natural MagickIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for Bread
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Inutili - A Love Supreme
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart