Budgie - You’re All Living In Cuckooland

Welsh headbangers’ first studio album for 24 years!

You may have thought this post-Cream power trio had squawked their last but, encouraged by Metallica’s covers of their Breadfan and Crash Course In Brain Surgery, they reconvened for live dates in the late 90s and have finally produced some new music. Singer/bassist/lyricist Burke Shelley has a fresh writing partner in guitarist Simon Lees, who is significantly younger than both Shelley and drummer Steve Williams. His input adds a contemporary edge, though sometimes overladen with synth-like effects. There are echoes of Aerosmith in I Don’t Want To Throw You, while two acoustic interludes, Love Is Enough and Captain, will polarise fan opinion. But the rest of You’re All Living In Cuckooland is recognisably Budgie, so welcome back, boyos! If I Were Brittania… (note the Slade-style spelling error) is the latest remaster. Not as consistent as their classics, due to upheavals detailed in the sleevenotes, the 1976 original boasts bonus versions of You’re Opening Doors and Black Velvet Stallion, cut this year with original guitarist Tony Bourge.

Noteworthy | NP 15

Reviewed by Michael Heatley
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