I love genuine and honest albums, and I’m guessing that by year end I won’t have found much to beat Ian Spiller‘s debut album, Mixing Love & Politics. While I am horribly behind with my intended review writing (sorry people, it’s been another weird year), I just had to find time and head space to set down the high regard I place on this album, even after only a few scant plays.

Although Ian Spiller as a solo artist has only produced a debut single and then this album, Mixing Love & Politics has all the markings of becoming a cult classic following on from albums from folk like Tim Buckley, Elliott Smith and Leonard Cohen.

In common with many classics, the album seems to display a little time capsule of a person’s vibe, and what’s important to them during a particular time of their life. To create a mood in a few words is a real songwriters craft.

That “genuine and honest” tab follows through both in the sound of the songs, the physical recording and also with the lyrics and subject matter themselves.

Vocally Spiller has a lovely rich, strong and slightly gruff voice. When he sings it lively and hard, I’m rather reminded of a much less derailed Shane McGowan; or perhaps a tuneful Billy Idol (haha imagine such a thing). There’s a dangerous unpredictable edge and a delicious confident swagger within Ian Spiller, but the song is always sung from the heart.

For the more reflective tunes, I get a vibe more for Kelly Jones, or acoustic Sprinsteen perhaps. Spiller has one of those vocals which demand attention and his voice has a unique feel to it.

Musically, there’s hints of honest classic folk rock, and the harmonica and moments where there is a whistled chorus, takes a golden thread back to solid bluesy roots. As well as that true grounding, there is a good balance of variation in the songs and tempos which keeps the album fresh throughout .

I remember pre-covid seeing Ian live with his band Narrow Margin, when he was but a 17/18 year old. Then Ian was all about white face make up and attitude. Back then I liked the swagger of youth in the whole band, and they put on a huge performance. Since then, from the promo photos, Ian is definitely stronger and hairier but he retains a striking style and look.

Time has been kind, and in addition to style, there is also a clear new maturity with this latest recording. As the album title suggests, there’s Love and Politics aplenty, but the album also displays a careful reflection of Ian’s relationship in the world and what he can offer.

In this album Ian seems comfortable in his own skin; not afraid to explain his own deficiencies. I described this as a personal album, and it does seem we can have a rummage through Ian’s mind. There’s those confusing and frantic uni years where your old friends are shuffled around the country, and new firm friends appear. Meanwhile nagging thoughts about love and life and the long term creep in. All play a part in the lyrics here.

Bexley Square is of course in Salford and was home to a workers protest and bitter police break up in 1931. The track of the same name seems to highlight the contrast about how we still struggle, and how we might need a cause to fire us up.

It’s not all serious, and the romantic humour of At Least Then We Would Know has me smiling from ear to ear. This song offers a sweet tale where the protagonist recalls a summer in London, yearns for love and thinks perhaps someone might be worth giving a relationship a go.

Our man knows that perhaps he’s not the biggest catch and the corresponding film of the relationship would be years long, and based in somewhere ordinary like Plymouth. Nevertheless he is in love with the idea of love and that shines through on this track.

I wont go through every track but rest assured, there’s much to pick and mix and discover in this unassuming album; that’s the triumph. Mixing Love & Politics is a five star album well worth getting to know.

* words by tiggerligger

* images from the artists own social media