301) J.J. Burnel - Euroman Cometh

A week ago, I was praising Hugh Cornwell’s work rate on releasing his debut album in 1979 after four Stranglers albums in two years. Hugh wasn’t the only one with a fine work ethic as Stranglers bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel released his debut solo album, Euroman Cometh, seven months before Cornwell.

During the recording of The Stranglers Black and White album Burnel lived in the studio and through the night started messing with a beatbox adding guitar and bass and realising he had a solo record. Like Cornwell’s Nosferatu this was a loosely based concept album on a United state of Europe. I don’t imagine JJ (get me, as if I know him) voted for Brexit.

We have an instrumental, a cover, a song in French and one in German. The instrumental Triumph has JJ’s motorbike on it but goes on to long and doesn’t really go anywhere but the cover Pretty Face romps along with great guitar from The Damned’s Brian James and harmonica from Eddie & the Hot Rods Lew Lewis. Tout Comprendre is the French one his voice is more tuneful, and the synth is out there, and a dominant bass holds it together. The German sung song Deutchland Nicht Uber Alles never gets going for me.

Freddie Laker was the single but I can see why it bombed as Burnell’s vocals are altered but it’s a great formidable tune that storms along but would never be a commercial hit and Crabs is a crass annoying song but Jellyfish where his vocal and synth fight for which one is most out of tune is not without its charms.

We have four songs with the word euro in them out of the ten tracks, opener Euroman is minimal all atmospheric and a haunting bass, Euromess is equally similar with an almost spoken robotic vocal. Do the European has a bit more going on in the background and a nagging catchy chorus, would have been a better single and Eurospeed (Your Own Speed) has a rough guitar, almost demo like in its simplicity that at times reminds me of fellow Strangler Cornwell’s vocals.

 It’s a brave album; I preferred Cornwell’s Nosferatu but an interesting listen, nevertheless.

5/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Do the European