Wilson, Phil / God Bless Jim Kennedy

Slumberland

As main songwriter and singer of mid-'80s English pop legends The June Brides, Phil Wilson's influence looms large over UK guitar pop since. A bridge between early-'80s groups like Josef K and the later Creation scene, The June Brides kept the flame burning for earnest, tuneful pop that combined fiercely-strummed, jangly guitars with smart, literate lyrics and punk-informed energy. Though their career was a brief three years, their achievements are notable: all four of their singles and their sole LP topped the UK indie charts, they recorded several BBC sessions, including one for John Peel, and they toured with such heavyweights as The Smiths, Go-Betweens, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Mekons, Alternative TV, The Television Personalities and The Wedding Present. Following the dissolution of The June Brides, Wilson released a handful of solo singles on Creation and Caff, and then, soured on the music business, retired. His legend has only grown though, with bands as diverse as the Manic Street Preachers, Belle and Sebastian, The Aislers Set and Franz Ferdinand citing Wilson and the Brides as important influences. In 2008, Slumberland released Wilson's Industrial Strength EP, which featured inspired re-workings of songs by Throbbing Gristle, Kraftwerk, Faust and contemporary German band S/T and got Phil back into the groove of making music and writing his own tunes again. His newly assembled full band (including Arash Torabi, Andy Fonda and ex-June Brides Jon Hunter and Frank Sweeney) presents his first new songs since his mid-'90s solo singles. God Bless Jim Kennedy is a tour de force of smart, punk-infused power-pop, wherein he picks up right where he left off, writing clever tunes that are simultaneously rocking and tender, tough-minded and honest but not immune to a dash of sentimentality. Wilson's place in pop history as a bridge between post-punk DIY pop and late-'80s indie-pop has been well-documented, and it's nothing less than thrilling to have him back, and in top form at that.

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