Sounds Made By Humans is the first collaboration between Brian Bilston, who is one of England's leading poets and indie super group Catenary Wires, who are Amelia Fletcher, Fay Hallam, Ian Button and Rob Pursey who play in many of your favourite indie bands.
The album opens with Alexa, What Is There To Know About Love a simple enough question for the virtual assistant to answer, over dark swirling indie rock with a velveteen influence, Amelia Fletchers girl group backing vocals, let us know just what Alex thought of the question, Brian asks the question over and again, giving the answers in a most deadpan fashion.
The Interview asks all sorts of odd questions they may or may not have been asked in interviews, this is part job interview part celebrity interview, if some of these questions don't perplex you, then you have been involved in far too many odd interview situations. The more absurd the question the closer you are to success.
Every Song On The Radio Reminds Me Of You it doesn't matter if it's by Kajagoogoo or Black Sabbath or Angie Stone they are all about you, no he isn't joking, Sheila Easton nails your life as much as Human League or The Smiths do, this is snarky and also very cute and real, you could make a great playlist from the songs mentioned in this song, that ain't over till Dylan is referenced.
Might Have, Might Not Have is a driving indie pop tune for a series of excuses, slowly recited for all that has and has not gone wrong.
To Do List or more a not To Do List, all sorts of mundane things, to do on a daily or weekly basis, pick and choose which ones you need to do, while listening to this song, eventually Amelia replies to Brians list with far more force and makes clear what she needs him to get done.
Compilation Cassette the sort you make about 3 weeks into a new relationship, all the rules for choosing the tunes, all the micro references, to things that have been said. Saying all the things you were unable to say up close and personal, you can't just say Why Don't You Smile Now over and over again without sounding soppy, in this case before the cassette is even delivered you've been Hancocked.
Out Of The Rain has very 80's lyrics for a very beautiful day for a nuclear war, while Belle & Sebastian's ghost backs the nuclear implosion.
31 Rules For Midlife Rebellion is a droll list song, for all the things to do while being a middle aged reactionary, from wanting to be Thomas Shelby ignoring Adele on early morning runs with Mumford & Sons, this is great fun perfect for those of us about to get our bus passes that still have long hair.
As I Grow Old I Will March Not Shuffle is angry bile ridden works for not going gently into that bright new future, carry on moaning and complaining, trying to break down walls and heavy riffing till the end of your days, blinding racists and fascists along the way.
She’d Dance around the place listening to cafe indie pop, slowly flowing around the tables and chairs. My Heart Is A Lump Of Rock you just need to lose yourself in reverb heavy College professor rock, full of harmonies and chiming guitars.
Thou Shalt Not Commit Adulting don't whatever you do to become an adult, you'd rather remain incalcitrant, carry on having fun and doing the stuff that got you off in your 20's. All the responsibility you would rather ignore being a reality of life, full of solid advice and fun guitar pop.
The album closes with the bonus tune Customers Who Also Bought This Record Also Bought a classic conveyor belt style list song, of all the things Brian Bilston and The Catenary Wires fans also bought including a Jigsaw puzzle of Gerard Depardieu and crease free curtains et al, all items available from Temu obviously, apologies to American fans who can no longer afford these items due to tariffs your unicorn will be forever disappointed.
Find out more at https://brianbilstonandthecatenarywires.bandcamp.com/album/sounds-made-by-humans-2 https://brianbilston.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BrianBilston
