For someone who is such a fan of his father, the late Ian Dury (tinyurl.com/zubreasons), I know very little about Baxter Dury’s career. I knew he had released a record or two but The Night Chancers is actually his sixth record. I must say, I find this record extremely interesting and enjoyable. Baxter’s modus operandi is both similar and different to his old man; bubbling bass synths, clean guitar, killer pseudo-funk bass work, synth strings on top, and lots of backing female vocals carrying the melody. Baxter proto - raps his way through the ten songs on The Night Chancers, and the voice does remind you of our Ian. It’s not a bad thing. 

 

 

Opener ‘I’m Not Your Dog’ starts all Kraftwerk-inspired, sequenced up until Baxter opines “I’m not your fucking friend.” and the backing voices enjoin the title in French (‘Je ne suis pas ton chien’) as Baxter spins a tale of social media addiction. It’s a great opener. Next cut ‘Slumlord’ is a real wonder, with killer bass and funk guitar while Baxter goes on about a character who doesn’t seem very nice “I’ll shout you down in a slumlord way...scary people, saying silly shit.” It’s a mesmerizing tune. 

 

 

‘Saliva Hog’ marries an almost reggae bass figure with the story of “A slobby spiv..with a high level bronzer.” As the backing vocals intone “Who the fuck are you my friend.” It’s like a smoother version of something from Metal Box era PiL. Baxter is also clever in how he keeps the songs short and to the point (the whole record is 30 minutes total, and that’s perfect). 

On ‘Sleep People’ the story is about hotel hallway carts, dreaming new dreams, and “free drinks for the pencil thin” as a hypnotic bass riff throbs on. 

‘Carla’s Got A Boyfriend is classic Dury(old or new): 

Carla’s got a boyfriend  

He’s got horrible trousers 

And a small car 

Carla’s got a boyfriend   

I spotted him on Instagram 

Followed him about a bit 

Carla’s got a boyfriend 

Bit of designer hair 

Sloppy facial looks 

Carla’s got a boyfriend  

I might take care of him to be honest 

This is just chip-off-the-old-block Dury. 

‘The Night Chancers’ describes a man left at a hotel by his lover. It’s all desperate times and desperate measures:  

You call me from a taxi telling me how good I can be 

And how much you miss me 

But you’re a kilometer away 

By the ending tune, ‘Say Nothing,’ the backing singers are repeating “Baxter...loves you” like a Greek chorus. 

The Night Chancers is a remarkable record. It’s not an Ian Dury record, but it reminds you of one. How could it not? Baxter is following the family trade and yet doing things his own way. This is a very British and European sounding record. If you’re familiar with and like Ian’s work you’ll enjoy Baxter. If not, give The Night Chancers a spin anyway. It’s unlike most anything out there now. 

---Steve McGowan

 

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