Chris Difford - The Last Temptation of Chris
Like a good many men before him, former Squeeze mainstay Chris Difford appears to be greeting the onset of middle-age in reflective mood. The fantastically titled ‘The Last Temptation of Chris’ finds the 53 year old casting a nostalgic eye over his life thus far; contemplating childhood (the beautiful infantile lullaby of ‘My Mother’s Handbag is a treat), his tribulations and regrets over attempting to juggle the dual roles of fronting a hugely successful band with being a father (‘Broken Family’) and a host of other tales some of which are undeniably autobiographical, others being inspired by characters met along the way.
‘The Last Temptation’ is Difford’s first solo release in six years, but the lyrical sharpness, insight and wit which saw Difford feted as a “quintessentially English lyricist. . . the link between Ray Davies and Jarvis Cocker” are all still firmly in evidence. The subject matter and musical accompaniment may be slightly more pedestrian these days than the adolescent antics depicted in Difford’s best loved songs from Squeeze’s early days; but the moulding of Difford’s wry, humorous lyrical prowess with the “beautiful batch of melodies” provided by collaborator Boo Hewerdine proves to be an inspired move, culminating in a warm, funny and extremely listenable record.
In between re-moulding himself as a solo-artist and reconvening with his former muse Glenn Tilbrook and Squeeze on a first U.K tour in nine years. Difford has forged an alternative path running songwriting workshops; it was during one particular session at a cancer hospice that Difford found the lyrical inspiration for one of the album’s most beautiful and touching moments ‘Battersea Boys’. Adapted wholly from a series of conversations Difford had with a patient, whose brother was labelled a “poof” and was “so misunderstood” by his father due to his love of opera. It is a tender and poignant ballad, one which highlights Difford’s unique ability to transcribe every-day meetings into something extraordinary. One of Difford’s considerable strengths as a lyricist (and one which he actively encourages in his songwriting workshops) is his innate ability to “wear your heart on your sleeve and talk about your life”. Such lyrical frankness is found in abundance throughout the course of ‘The Last Temptation’, a particularly hilarious standout is the album’s lead single ‘Fat as a Fiddle’ which finds Difford pondering the gravitational changes that his aging anatomy is experiencing (“Now I have tits just like my Mum, I’m out of breath before I run”). Equally perceptive and insightful is ‘The Other Man in my Life’ which provides an honest and forthright assessment of adultery, contemplating how such an affair impacts upon the third party that you never get to meet. All in all, ‘The Last Temptation’ is the sound of a man increasingly at ease with himself, his life and ultimately his craft as a songwriter. Whilst it is unlikely to gain Difford legions of new fans, this is an immensely likeable body of work from one of Britain’s most consistent and imaginative lyricists.