Paul Haig - Relive

Former Josef K frontman gets back to basics

When Haig sings “You’ve got to relive now,” on the title track of his latest solo album, you’ve got to assume he’s addressing himself. The 10 punchy pop songs contained herein are a return to the short, spiky guitar sounds that he pioneered on Postcard imprint nearly 30 years ago. Since then, his legacy has grown while he has eschewed it, and bands such as Franz Ferdinand and The Rapture have reaped the rewards. It’s hardly surprising that Haig’s decided to revisit past glories at last.

Here we have guitars that recall New Order, The Wedding Present and early REM, while one or two ballads evoke the big, anthemic Scottish sound that should be known as “Tartanic”. The reference points have become so well established since Haig first turned his back on guitar pop, in fact, that it’s easy to forget that he was briefly at the vanguard of many of these sounds.

That, unfortunately, is the problem with Relive: Haig is revisiting a life that other bands never stopped living – and developing. While it’s good to hear him back doing what he does best, it seems there are now plenty more who do it even better.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

ROL | 021

Reviewed by Simon Hugo
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