Wild Billy Childish And The MBEs – Thatcher's Children (2008)

What I know about Billy Childish could be written in one paragraph at the start of an uninspired review.

He's a Medway based artist, filmmaker and musician, friend of Tracey Emin, and possessor of an impressive moustache. Musically, it seems he's ploughed a punk rock furrow without compromise for decades. Whether it's serious music or a conceptual art statement is irrelevant. Is it a good listen?

Well, yes. This 2008 album is a collection of a dozen short songs, some political, some real life, even a love song. They're simple songs in a three piece band (with Nurse Julie, Billy's wife, on bass and occasional vocals, and Wolf Howard on drums).

My stand outs from this set are the opener Thatcher's Children, an angry political punk song, the early Wire like Again And Again, the poppy Coffee Date, sung by Julie, as is He's Making A Tape (with a riff borrowed from The Clash's Career Opportunities), and closing track Back Among The Medway Losers.

It's half an hour of short, surprisingly listenable songs. Well worth the effort!

Link to full album

4* - I enjoyed this back to basics collection far more than I'd anticipated. Punk's not dead!