Year Released: 1989
Rating:  B+
Recommended For Listeners of:  R.E.M., The Sound, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Replacements, XTC, Elvis Costello, Joy Division, Interpol, Editors, Psychedelic Furs, Cure, Dire Straits,  U2, The Chameleons, Dream Syndicate, Mighty Lemon Drops, The Conells, Grant Lee Buffalo, 1000 Maniacs, The Housmartins, The Smiths, Ian McCulloch, Robert Forster, Grant Mclennan, The Go-Betweens .

Alexandria

The album kicks of with the jangly acoustic guitars of "Light The Sky". A vibrant and optimistic start.The magnificent "Rogue Beauty" features beautiful strings arrangements over acoustic guitars and stand up bass. He sings of the self torture of bittersweet romantic illusion and hope. "Beneath The Big Wheel" is a minimalistic track with more string arrangements and brilliant touch drumming. He sings about the day to day life and keeping the Big Wheel spinning. He refers to the Big Wheel in this context. He lets you know how bad it is in the last verse.

"It's a rollercoaster with fairground lights
There's a wheel on my wagon rolling into the night
And in my head there's this beautiful sight
They're building a different wheel"

There is ache in Borland on "Otherside of The World". An emotional cry for being somewhere else from the life you live.

Interestingly this uses a flute of the sought you might hear from indigneous South American bands. Yet it never sounds world beat. "Shadows of your grace" falls into this category.Certainly a great slow-burner but for the use of saxophones. They give it that dated 80s feel that was overdone on most mainstream pop rock at the time.  "She's My Heroine" builds like a Joy Division track with electric sounding bass. The pop melodies and acoustic guitars kill that notion.  Much more like Material Issue or The Chills. Certain songs carry the theme of heartbreak and hope of recovery. Borland's voice is similar to Ian McCulloch giving the record Bunnymen feel at times. Much like Evergreen era or modern day Echo and the Bunnymen.

Overall Alexandria could be easily sit alongside early R.E.M., The Mighty Lemon Drops, Dream Syndicate, The Go Betweens, The Replacemensts and XTC. Adrian produced the album himself, having already worked with a number of independent bands.  Vibrators guitar player Pat Collier was drafted in to add his special touch to a few of the songs. A passionate record delivered by a passionate man who luckily left us with a catalog of music to explore.

Anyone who calls himself a fan of music should seek out The Sound and Adrian Borland's solo records. Certainly if you love bands like The Chameleons, Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen. Outside of their cult following in The Netherlands and avid post punk fans, they were fairly unheard. Critics alike agree they are amongst the best British artists from the 80s and rightly deserved more. Strong words, but history may do justice one day. Anyone willing to find out more about the gems produced by The Sound and Adrian Borland should check out the brilliant Brittle Heaven web site.

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