David Westlake - My Beautiful England

by Dixie Ernill

published: 8 / 11 / 2022

Label: Tiny Global Productions
Format: CD

Slow growing but ultimately haunting first album in twenty years from former Servants frontman David Westlake

Review

2022 has been a pretty good year for new LPs from older indie artists. So far there has been the stunning debut by Bristol supergroup, Karen, a sparkling new one from The Chesterfields, a dreamy pop record from The Orchids and Pete Astor’s best one in years. The most surprising new blast from the past, however, surely must be David Westlake’s ‘My Beautiful England’, his first slice of new material for over twenty years. The other artists mentioned above have all been active, at least in the live arena in recent years, but Westlake has been completely out of view for some time. The only vague semblance of visibility has been via Optic Nerve who re-issued his old band, The Servants first two singles in 2019 and 2021. Some albums are often referred to as “growers”, requiring a number of listens before the magic seeps through and ‘My Beautiful England’ is certainly one of those. On first listen I was completely underwhelmed, but after perseverance something clicked and the warm nostalgic memories that percolate through most of the songs began to resonate, even though the subject matter and locations were not my own. Westlake’s ability to transport the listener into his stories is quite something. Musically, the album has that slightly eclectic quality and The Monochrome Set springs readily to mind throughout. That’s not to say this is a facsimile, it just carries a similar feel. Lyrically, Westlake’s mate from 80’s London, Robert Forster, seems an influence too. ‘Bethnal Green Museum Of Childhood’ is probably the standout track, being a simple catchy number, but the lilting 60’s French Pop inspired ‘Au Contraire, Tony Blair’ runs it a close second. ‘My Beautiful England’ is definitely worth checking out and sticking with.

Track Listing:-

1 My Beautiful England
2 War Memorial
3 The Modern Ruins Of Old London Town
4 Bethnal Green Museum Of Childhood
5 Mallory Kept Climbing The Mountain
6 E Is For The Empire
7 Hayes, Middlesex
8 English Parish Churches
9 Regency Terrace
10 Marie Lloyd
11 The Crusades
12 The Age Of Unenlightenment
13 General Gordon's Last Stand
14 Au Contraire, Tony Blair