Glen Tilbrook & The Fluffers - Pandemonium Ensues

While former Squeeze bandmate Jools Holland forces himself into awkward conversations with huge stars, Mr Tilbrook has gathered a posse to attempt some no-excuses pop. Though the Fluffers' debut is rather pleasing, it seems to be the kind of record for a business exec to let his hair down to as he sautés the potatoes for tonight’s dinner party. In other words, the energy that gushed out of Squeeze is disturbingly absent. An individual song like Relentless Pursuit is endurable, meandering along like a Sunday stroll with some pleasing harmonies, but, as we all know, too much sugar makes you sick. Then there’s the grating abuse of the moog synth and the lyrics to compete with: “could it be a twist of fate or was it written/in tea leaves or maybe stars that we’d both be smitten” Maybe these words chime perfectly with the middle-aged businessman, but where's this pandemonium they're talking about? [Gordon Bruce]