Dave Simpson 

Squeeze

Apollo, Manchester
  
  


Around the turn of the 80s, Squeeze's songwriting duo Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford were talked about as the new Lennon and McCartney. A burnout, a split and a reunion later, they never quite lived up to such ridiculous expectations. However, few bands could match their opening salvo of singles here. Take Me I'm Yours, Is That Love?, Up the Junction and Another Nail in My Heart are perfect, edgy power-pop songs from the days when Squeeze dominated UK pop radio.

On their first tour for nine years, the duo's hair and jackets are much as they were in their prime, although a wind machine makes Tilbrook look as if he is permanently standing in a gale. Newer songs slow the pace but Some Fantastic Place shows that their wonderful songwriting was not confined to their youth, and demonstrates that Tilbrook still has one of the great white soul voices. When it combines with Difford's baritone, the effect is sparkling.

Rumours of silences on stage do not materialise and the band are chatty, responding to shouts for songs with a cheery "That'll be along in a minute", and the hits always are. Labelled With Love is an exquisite reminder of how superbly they documented broken lives washed down by drink.

Squeeze have never been exactly cutting-edge but Slap and Tickle is re-invented as a nu-rave stomper. Accompanying images signpost the band's and the country's past: a punky-looking Difford, union flags and pie and mash. Then there is another hailstorm of whoppers: Goodbye Girl, Pulling Mussels (from the Shell) and a playful Cool for Cats. They never made it quite as big as the Beatles, but they are still fab.

 

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