'Like Dire Straits on Speed' (Boz Boorer)
'The Portugal Years' are the songs Glasgow (via Manchester) boys 'Johnny Reb' recorded at the arse end of 2010 with Morrissey's guitarist Boz Boorer at the helm..
It is not an album; merely a collection of demos, a statement of intent, a heartfelt apology..
Boorer, instrument slut that he is, blows a harmonica on 'Brown Paper Bag' & sucks a saxophone so suggestively on 'Crumbs' whilst Dave Ruffy, from punk legends The Ruts, tambourines away on 'Emile (part one)' ..
Featured on BBC Radio One & 6Music, the sessions are available for free download..
Video to 'Nine On The Line' by BAFTA winning director Ian Robertson..
youtube.com/watch?v=9dh6ngdvPmE
Artwork by guitarist Joseph Bucklow..
cargocollective.com/jbucklow
Quotes, complaints, press (shudder)..
'Morrissey after three pints' (Matthew; Song By Toad)
'Mancunian genius' (Ross; Trisickle)
'There’s something timeless about the music of Glasgow’s Johnny Reb' (Lisa-Marie; Last Year's Girl)
'Moussaka' (Halina Rifai; Glasgow Podcart)
'Great British guitar rock' (Will; We All Want Someone To Shout For)
'The tunes and the talent to make a bit more noise in Scotland's predominantly folk laden landscape' (Ian; Have Fun At Dinner)
'Literate Glaswegian pop terrorists' (The Hardy Boys)
'Extreme intoxication' (Hamish; Curious Joe)
'A band that may just make you swap your cords for turned up 501's' (Shaun; Brill Dream)
'Titus Andronicus or Bright Eyes with freewheeling, talky vocals that aren’t unlike Mike Scott' (Stuart; A Tidal Wave Of Indifference)
'A band in desperate need of a self confidence counsellor' (Paul; The Devil Has The Best Tuna)
'Ridiculously Camden' (Marcus; A Pocket Full Of Seeds)
A special nod to Leighton Baines (Everton FC & England) for his kind words; ta lid..
released April 18, 2011