The Last Parade is the first album I’ve ever released.
It was mostly written and all recorded in London during the Covid-19 2020 Lockdown.
The Last Parade was originally written about the end of term disco at Stratton School in Biggleswade. This caused havoc in finding rhymes, so this is completely new, but with some skewed memories of the past. I remember REM’s Everybody Hurts was playing as the lights came on.
Another Drink was written in 2000, but never released. Inspired whilst taking a tour of Phil Collins’ Parr Street recording studio in Liverpool. This might be a false memory.
Fail Better Then is based on the melody of a hymn called ‘How Great Thou Art’, but less church, and more late night lounge bar. Imagine God taking some time out, having an Old Fashioned at the bar, wondering what all the background noise is as the world goes to shit.
Light Up The Room was written in about 2007, but never released. Imagine me taking some time out, having a Martini at the bar, wondering who the slightly harried looking guy on the stool next to me is. Just then, someone walks in and lights up the room. Considering the company, this was unexpected.
Whitehall was inspired by the different responses to restlessness during the Covid-19 lockdown. In north London, there were illegal raves in parks and on barges, ruffians spoiling for a fight at Alexandra Palace, whilst would-be racers caused havoc on the South Terrace in their MX5s and souped up Golfs. Meanwhile, the more socially aware responded to the BLM movement to protest inequalities on Whitehall.
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