Rating: 9.5/10
I went into Squeeze’s Trixies expecting something familiar. What I got was an invitation into a place. By the end of the album, I felt as though I had spent the evening inside the fictional nightclub at the centre of it—and I was already looking forward to going back.
That was a lovely surprise. Trixies is different from the Squeeze I had in mind, but in the best possible way. Its theatrical setting gives the songs a shared world, while the music is so easy to settle into that I never once felt like skipping ahead. I wanted to hear the whole thing, from start to finish.
A record you can step inside
There is a fascinating history behind it: Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook first wrote the concept as teenagers in the 1970s, imagining the people and stories of a nightclub called Trixies. More than five decades later, they have finally brought those songs to life. The idea could have felt like an old curiosity dusted off for the sake of it. Instead, it feels full of character.
The setting makes a real difference to the way I listened. Each song seemed to bring me further into the room. The record has that quality of a night unfolding around you: different moods, different faces, and a feeling that there is always something else happening just out of sight. It is still an easy listen, but there is plenty to get lost in.
Glenn Tilbrook’s voice is a big part of the appeal for me. It is warm and welcoming, and it carries the changing moods without turning the concept into hard work. I enjoyed simply being in the company of these songs.
“The Place We Call Mars” and “The Jaguars”
“The Place We Call Mars” is a cracking track. It was one of the moments that made me sit up and realise this album was taking me somewhere unexpected. There is a playful, dramatic quality to it, but the song is strong enough to stand on its own.
“The Jaguars” was another immediate favourite. It has the kind of lift that makes you want to stay in this world a little longer. Both tracks made it straight into the reasons I know I will return to the album, even though the real pleasure is hearing how everything works together.
Why it stayed with me
We often pick out individual songs from an album and move on. Trixies made me want to stay for the entire visit. I liked how accessible it sounded, but what won me over was the feeling of being part of the place it created. Its concept came through in the experience of listening, without my having to work to follow it.
That is why its difference from what I expected became its greatest strength. Squeeze could have given me a comfortable collection of familiar songs. Instead, they gave me a record with an atmosphere I wanted to inhabit. There are standout tracks, certainly, but I will be putting this one on from the beginning again.
Trixies also made an impression beyond my headphones: it reached No. 1 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. Having heard it in full, I can understand why people wanted to spend time with it.
Verdict
Trixies took me by surprise and held my attention all the way through. Tilbrook’s voice, the easy charm of the music and a vivid nightclub setting made it feel like somewhere I had visited, rather than simply an album I had played. “The Place We Call Mars” and “The Jaguars” are my standouts, and the whole record is now saved to my playlist.
I cannot wait to join Trixies for another night. 9.5/10.
