Earlier this year, the former Trembling Bells drummer and songwriter Alex Neilson released Otterburn under the Alex Rex nom de plume. In his review of the album, Thomas Blake noted how he is able to take ” a very real event, and one saturated in the most visceral of emotional responses – and create from it a single cohesive work of art that nonetheless functions as an integral part in an impressive and growing catalogue of work.” He went on to suggest that “It might be helpful to think of an artist’s career as a house in which each room represents an album. In Neilson’s case, these rooms may be filled with varied and distinctive artistic creations, all of which can be combined to create a schema that runs through the whole building.” For his third album, Andromeda (out on 7 February 2020), we enter another room, one which promises a game of emotional snakes and ladders, shaped by two years spent in therapy, the gym and on Tinder.
While we’re generally not in the habit of giving too much away ahead of an album review, it would be immoral of us not to share the fact the album opens to the voice of folk legend Shirley Collins but you’ll have to wait to hear that one as first out of the starting gate is “Haunted House” – a ghost-rock ballad about an emotional poltergeist looking for love. It was originally written as a Trembling Bells song but the Bells ceased operations before it was finished. The haunting female backing vocal is by Jill Lorean from Sparrow and the Workshop. The video was filmed in Hampstead Heath pergola- a ruined Victorian pleasure garden.
The accompanying press reveals that absence becomes a new form of presence in this collection of 12 songs that dip and soar, melodies that haunt and soothe. Guest appearances from Shirley Collins and Steve Jackson enhance an album rich in contributions from musical collaborators including Rory Haye, Audrey Bizouerne (Rev Magnetic / Bill Wells) and Georgia Seddon (Mike Heron / The Incredible String Band).
Andromeda covers a vast terrain, musically, lyrically, emotionally. With each solo release, Neilson reveals a little more of himself. His voice has never sounded so brutally honest, so desperate, defiant and courageous.
Pre-Order Andromeda, out 7 Feb – https://alexrex.bandcamp.com/album/andromeda
UK Tour Dates 2020
1st February – Glasgow- Platform- Celtic Connections
7th February – Manchester- The Peer Hat
8th February – Coventry- The Tin*
9th February – Whitstable- St Mary’s Hall*
10th February – London- The Victoria*
8th April – Newcastle- Cumberland Arms
9th April – Bishops Castle- SpArC Theatre
10th April – Birmingham- Club Integral Midlands
11th April – Hereford- The Babar Cafe
12th Apri – Bristol- The Exchange
13th April – Bath- The Bell
14th April – Lewes- Westgate Chapel
15th April – London- New River Studios
16th April – Leicester- The Musician
17th April – Glasgow- Glad Cafe
18th April – Fife- Futtle
19th April – Edinburgh- Sneaky Pete’s
*supporting Kacy & Clayton
Photo credit: Audrey Bizouerne