Album reviews: Arrivalists, Billy Bragg and the Specials

An emotional tribute by an Irish singer/songwriter, a lockdown blues album and a collection of protest songs are reviewed this week

The Specials: an album of cover versions comprised of equal parts vigour and vitriol

SINGER-SONGWRITER

Arrivalists

Last of the Written Pages (Hedge Schools)

“There are no phones, no files, no hard drives. Their memories are photos and written pages. They are probably the last of them.” Irish musician and songwriter Patrick M Barrett (formerly of Ten Speed Racer and the Hedge Schools) returns home to look after his ageing parents and processes the experience by writing a suite of songs. Their titles alone tell a heart-wrenching life story underpinned ...