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From Q magazine, February 1999:
QUIXOTIC QRSQD 098 13th collection from the likeably blokeish South Londoners. Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford have recently celebrated their silver jubilee of writing songs together. Like most who've stuck around for a while, they're taken pretty much for granted these days and obviously no longer considered worthy of major label support. A pity, because when it comes to writing sharp, affectionate, little dramas they're still as good as we've got. Domino has the usual quota of songs about getting drunk, getting laid, getting divorced, getting banged up, getting hurt and, naturally, girls from Clapham. Despite the presence of three brand new sidemen and an obviously tight recording budget, nothing much else has changed which, in Squeeze's case, is no bad thing at all. Review by: Peter Kane
Contributed by Stephen Towler.
Domino (Quixotic) Chris and Glenn draft in new band and go indie for their latest. The miniature plays for today that Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook rattle off for Squeeze with such apparent ease may cover familiar terrain - singles and couples struggling with life, often with a spirit-crushing lack of success - but their observation, humanity, humour and understanding make them as apt in the '90s and they were in the'70s. Through scalpel sharp writing, the dozen songs here parade a selection of misfits, dreamers, nasty sods, sad bunnies and ordinary folk coping as best they can. The opening tracks star fairly hopeless blokes, the next few focus on maturer subjects, the final four are about a prostitute, a divorcee, a petty criminal and advertising. Listening to a Squeeze album can be like watching a docu-soap, fly-on-the wall TV series. Domino is their Paddington Green. Review by: Geoff Brown Contributed almost simultaneously by Stephen Towler and Daniel Dewey. Daniel adds this footnote: (translation for non-UK Squeezesters- Paddington Green is a UK fly on the wall documentary series featuring all sorts of weird and wonderful characters from an area of London).
Domino Quixotic QRSQD098 The first response one gets after listening to this venerable band's 13th album is "Wow, there isn't one uptempo track here!" Could this be because the band has lost their energy and drive, having been together now for 25 years? Could it be that these deliberate, langourous stylings were done by design? Or could it be as a result of a catharsis experienced by Chris Difford which was conveyed by lyrics that Glenn Tilbrook could do nothing but wed to slower melodies? No matter, this is a nice album that's very easy to listen to. Many of the classic Squeeze earmarks are still here: Tilbrook's voice will probably always be a finely tuned instrument, retaining its gift of vivid, powerful communication even without words, there is lots of that identifiable interplay between guitars and keyboards, and of course you've got the unique "one octave apart" pairing of Tillbrook's and Difford's vocals. Even within the confines of slower tempos there's a lot to choose from here, such as the funky "Play On," and "Domino," (the soulful vibe is in large part due to the bass playing of new member Hilaire Penda), the urbane, sleek "What's Wrong With This Picture," the autobiographical, bluesy "To Be A Dad," which features some nice, swirling guitar licks, and the atmospheric "Donkey Talk" (hey Chris, what does "wonky" mean-enquiring Yank minds want to know!). The lone echo of the old days is the new wavey "In The Morning," but Domino doesn't need any of that to be a solid all around effort. Review by: David Bash.
Domino Full of wry social comment and humour, 'DOMINO' is more like a collection of short stories accompanied with music than your typical album. Bonkers features some great wah playing with spaced-out lyrics, the best of which has to be "the size of her breasts like woodpecker's nests...". Watch out for the solo, it's fluid and musical without being flash. A raunchy blues tone drives the title track along and is a perfect example of subtle slapback delay. Other highlights include the intro to Sleeping With A Friend, overdriven guitars working well together to give a solid wall of tone. The keyboard solo sounds like it's stepped right out of a Camel album! In The Morning's guitar solo sounds raw and improvised. Check out the great guitar tones on offer throughout. Rating: 4 out of 5
Contributed by Mark Holland. Domino (Quixotic London/Valley Entertainment) - Squeeze |