Dexy: Sleeping Through Summer – album review

Dexy: Sleeping Through Summer

(3 Minute Records)

CD | DL and Streaming

Available 28th January

South London’s Dexy returns with his 2nd album, Sleeping Through Summer on 28th January. He’s backed by Nick and Lily of Fightmilk (drums and vocals respectivly), Lucero’s Rick Steff on piano/organ and violinist Heather Newton amongst others.

It’s been a while since we heard from Dexy, but as you may have heard on my Indie Brunch on Louder Than War Radio this album, the follow up to 2017’s Tear It Down has been ready for the best part of 2 years. Unfortunately delayed by the pandemic. Produced by the experienced Adrian Hall (Sinead O’Connor, Tori Amos and Depeche Mode) Sleeping Through Summer is worth the wait, continuing the singer-songwriters own brand of bar-room country punk; with a nod to the Mick Taylor era Rolling Stones and Tom Petty.

The 10 new tracks take the listener on a journey, starting with the opening upbeat stomp of I Don’t Think I Turned Out Right. It reminds me of Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark or The Beatles Help. While it sounds positive there is something slighly not right with the world. As Dexy himself explains, “It’s about never feeling like you found your way, or managed to fit into a mould, but maybe that’s the best way to be.”

We then move onto the Memphis influenced The Dying Breed and catchy Broken Records through to the reflective, slightly yearning A Shrug to the Floor. This is enhanced by the Lily and Heather’s input and for me is the highlights of the album. It slows the pace down and is the musical equivalent of exhaling after holding your breath; there’s an atmospheric film soundtrack quality to it too. Things soon pick up again with soaring Fireworks On Your Lawn and rocking Boy Fatigued. A Little Victory sees Lily return, underpinning Dexy on the choruses before Melissa Reardon’s trumpet lifts it to another level and provides a final flourish (think Dave Goodhead on Billy Bragg’s Levi Stubbs Tears). Everyone Will Be Fine Now On provides a Beatles-esque flavour with a nod towards the Harrison quarter, before the penultimate Here Comes The Rain find Dexy in a reflected mood

The album closes with The Bitterest End which Dexy told me had arrived fully formed. It’s a heart-wrenching love story for loneliness however ends with reassurance. There are so many layers to this album that it improves with subsequent plays. While Dexy may have opened the album questioning where he ‘fits,’ this album would suggest he’s in the right place. It’s a timeless set of songs which will stand the test of time and be enjoyed for many years to come.

Dexy launches Sleeping Through Summer with a full-band live show at Signature Brew in Haggerston, East London on Friday 28th January

You can here replay his interview with me on Mixcloud and hear some of the tracks from the album alongside some of his personal favourites.

For more on Dexy visit Twitter, Instagram or Bandcamp 

“All words by Iain Key. See his Author Profile here author’s archive or on Twitter as @iainkey.”

Source: louderthanwar.com