England, Half English

It’s been six years since William Bloke, Billy Bragg’s last self-penned album. Great as the Mermaid Avenue sessions were, now that there’s a new Bragg album in our midst, we start to realise that six years is too long a wait.

Fans of Bragg’s unique take on songwriting will be glad to hear that little has changed. England, Half English is the usual blend of the personal and the political, sung in the same familiar drawl, but with enough arch humour to save it from disappearing up its rear. In fact this new release is so typically Bragg that even on first listen you feel you already know the songs.

England, Half English – as the title suggests – sees Bragg explore the ever more diverse culture and ethnic make up of his native country. The title track features a mean Hammond organ and trumpets and could be an old Madness number – “My breakfast’s half English and so am I you know. I ‘ad a plate of marmite soldiers washed down with a cappuccino.”

‘NPWA’ sees Bragg tackle the all too common relocation of manufacturing jobs from the UK to countries where production costs are cheaper. Another rousing chorus – “Can you hear us? Are you listening? No power without accountability.” – to add to Bragg’s canon. In ‘Some Days I Don’t See The Point’ Bragg addresses consumerism – a very modern disease. Determined not to wallow, it contains some of his most admissive lyrics – “I try to keep a lid on my disappointment cause cynicism seems such a cop out I know.”

If Bragg’s not your bag, then stay away, fans however can only be grateful to have more of the same old brilliant same.