Lucas Renney/ Strange Glory

Lucas Renney
Strange Glory
(Brille Records)

On track ‘Lord Knows I Do’ Lucas Renny (of The Golden Virgins’ questionable fame) is essentially writing the next hit for Take That. It’s the vocal range that makes it resemble one of Gary Barlow’s unquestionably famous tracks. Usually this would be a completely irrelevant comment to make but something isn’t right. It would appear that the record is being re-released because it didn’t sell that many records the first time round so a new press campaign might do it justice (or whatever).
It’s the type of LP that record industry executives can sit around listening to, scratching their heads in disbelief that it isn’t shifting the units they previously anticipated. So instead of re-evaluating this underwhelming Hay-On-Wye soundtrack it feels more pertinent to question why the record has failed. However, if I actually came up with anything half decent they’d probably end up re-recording the record or even worse, trying to release it again. So, in my own defeatist way here’s what Rough Trade Shops printed online for the sale of this record back in October last year,
“Release Date: 12/10/2009
Lucas Renney is the singer of XL Recordings' (and Sunderland heroes) The Golden Virgins, whose album 'Songs of Praise' was released to huge critical acclaim in 2002. His new album 'Strange Glory' is a glorious, romantic masterpiece produced by Cocteau Twins and Bella Union's Simon Raymonde and is reminiscent of Richard Hawley or Elvis Costello. it features members of Midlake as Lucas' backing band as well as Bella Union's Stephanie Dosen on vocals. CD only on Brille Records”.
Although I’ve italicised the lies, it still feels like the bastards are winning.