The outlandish man of menace returns with his ninth record, “Allbarone” – a rudimentary night of cynic disco, as he says what for on the dancefloor.//

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Plauded for his wry lyricism, hypnotic movements and woozy grooves, Baxter Dury – son of former punk Ian Dury – has been hand-feeding his alt-indie offerings since the start of the 21st Century. If you thought 2002’s Len Parrot’s Memorial Lift was a turn, Floor Show three years later was when people really starting seeing resemblances. Gleaning from post-rock and 1970’s alternative, the epiphany of Cocaine Man shook Baxter’s foundations to the core and soon, his direction was ambling off more in zig-zags than straight-edged soft rock.

It’s A Pleasure (2014) and Prince of Miami (2017) followed a similar thesis with the potency of Miami beckoning in an even larger fanbase. Before too long, 2023’s I Thought I Was Better Than You became the straw that broke the camel’s back so to speak. Although it featured more of the same suave indie play-by-plays, Dury’s next project demanded a change-up.

More than two decades into his career, Baxter Dury takes a turn away from his usual provocateur of indie sleaze and hits up the doozy escapades of disco dance. While it’s a fresh take musically, Dury’s lyrics are as to the bone as ever. The nine-track synth-bearer is a critical observation at just people in general.

The swanky sauntering of the self-titled is Baxter at his most complete, most melodically direct. Sitting outside in the rain outside a All Bar One, it plays out an existential heartbreak amongst love squirmished.

Schadenfreude keeps up with the dancefloor polishings, the synth dancing in the back out of the lights as a spot-lit Baxter finds gratification in another’s’ downfall. The latter half of the album sees him returning to his low-end contemplative indie roots, including the likes of Hapsburg and Return of the Sharp Heads, a visceral middle finger to those soul-fuckers in beige lapels that just irk you up all the wrong way, as JGerry’s haunting vocals appear once again. Hunger Games-inspired Mockingjay pokes fun at those revolutionary intentions that only go as far as the screens you view them on.

The record is a fast and blurry-eyed mention of caricatures of people that Baxter is having an existential blow-out about under the disco lights. At the base of it though, it’s intentions are for you to dance. Maybe equipped with the odd cower and wince, but it’s a dance all the same.

Paired with Paul Epworth’s beats on production, it’s gratifying to see an artist careen from his usual lane of comfort – all too aware that his fans may get bored out of the same toke offered.

Loud, direct and standoffish, it’s unequivocally Baxter Dury. Allbarone is out now.

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In celebration of his ninth record release, Baxter is set to go on tour, including one of his biggest headline shows to date, at London’s Eventim Apollo on the 22nd of November.