Dexys - 'One Day I'm Going To Soar'

After 27 years, Dexys (now minus the ‘Midnight Runners’ part of their moniker) are back with their new album, ‘One Day I’m Going To Soar’.

Main man Kevin Rowland is joined by original bass player, Pete Williams, Mick Talbot (Merton Parkas/The Style Council) who briefly played in the post ‘Geno’ 1980 line-up before being part of the breakaway act, The Bureau, and a brief appearance by ‘Big’ Jim Paterson.

The eleven songs here have their lyrics written by Rowland with the music predominantly written by Rowland and Talbot. Jim Paterson has writing credits on four songs, Pete Williams on one, with Alex James from Blur and Glen Matlock each having a single credit.

So what does this album sound like? Well, it’s certainly not the Hammond and horns soul revue style of ‘Searching For The Young Soul Rebels’ and 2-Tone tour days; but that’s not to be expected 30 plus years later (Paul Weller isn’t still recording in the style of The Jam, for instance). However, there are still occasional flash-backs to the fiddle and brass days of ‘Too-Rye-Ay’ in places. What we do still get is Kevin Rowland’s passion and intensity – its burning as bright as ever, as is his distinctive and superb voice.

‘One Day I’m Going To Soar’ is a story, each song taking us further along the time line than the last. We start off with ‘Now’ and Kevin’s admission of not quite fulfilling all of his dreams despite doing the best that he could. ‘Lost’ is about what it says on the tin whilst ‘Me’ appears to talk about his insecurity with his peers and what they think of him. The next phase of the album starts with’ She’s Got a Wiggle’ and Kevin’s attraction to a certain lady and continues with the relationship and love blossoming. However, just when all seems to be going well, Kevin suddenly ends the relationship realising that it wasn’t love but infatuation. Dexys then deliver the excellent ‘Incapable of Love’ ending with him (unsuccessfully) asking his lady if she would consider an open relationship! The final part of the album contains ‘Nowhere is Home’ where he reflects that he will always be alone, followed by the really good ‘Free’ and the confessional ‘It’s OK John Joe’, before a final short flourish of ‘Free’ to end the album.

This album demonstrates, once again, the genius of Kevin Rowland and, as an album, is a great work. Dexys will be touring in September, playing the album in full in exactly the same order to tell the story – they are also promising some old favourites too.

It’s been 27 years since the last album, ‘Don’t Stand Me Down’, and it’s been well worth the wait.