Squeeze’s Trixies is Alright

“It’s, oh, so continental, it’s the underworld of the night, It’s, oh, so instrumental, I don’t have to sing another line because Trixies is alright”. So go the lyrics to the opening chorus of Squeeze’s first new album in eight years. Trixies (released March 6) is a revived concept album written by then teenagers Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook back in 1974. The story revolves around an imaginary nightclub by the same name. It’s a character driven musical, really.

The first song that really stands out to me is track two, “You Get the Feeling”. The acoustic guitar opening perfectly sets the mood as Tilbrook describes the exhilaration of Saturday night in a city nightclub. The harmonies are memorable and the lyrics more than relatable. The piano driven “The Place We Call Mars” has a little bit of a Bowie vibe to it. Love the use of the harpsichord in “Hell on Earth”.

Generally speaking, the album has a more atmospheric feel than previous Squeeze albums. The emphasis isn’t on chart friendly hits. It’s on storytelling. And in that respect, it works quite well. That’s not to say that there isn’t an earworm or two on the “record”. Mentioned earlier, “You Get the Feeling” is certainly memorable. And “Why Don’t You” captures the pub rock vibe of some of the tracks on Argy Bargy. Other highlights include: “Don’t Go Out in the Dark”, “It’s Over” (with a very smooth vocal performance by Difford), and “The Jaguars”.

I’d anxiously awaited this album since I heard about it at a Squeeze show in Las Vegas last year (see the video above). Below, you’ll find a video for “You Get the Feeling” from this latest LP. You can get your copy (CD or digital) at Amazon Music.