Squeeze Draws From Teen Years

The songs on *Trixies* were originally written and demoed on a cassette in 1974, years before Squeeze released their official debut album in 1978. At the time, Chris Difford was 19 and Glenn Tilbrook was 16, and they lacked the musical experience to properly record their ambitious project. The material was conceived as a concept album centered around a fictional nightclub called "Trixies." Difford was inspired by the colorful street characters in the writings of Damon Runyon, which influenced the narratives of crime and desire that populate the songs. Rediscovering a better-quality recording of the original demos decades later prompted the band to finally give the songs a proper studio treatment. The newly recorded tracks largely adhere to the original teenage compositions, but benefit from the band's current musical abilities and modern recording techniques. The sound of the album reflects the duo's early influences, with critics noting echoes of David Bowie, Sparks, and Lou Reed in the music. This project captures the initial creative spark of a songwriting partnership that would later be hailed as heirs to Lennon and McCartney. While working on *Trixies*, the band also recorded a full album of entirely new material, which is expected to be released sometime after this retrospective project. Squeeze has announced an ambitious UK tour for the autumn, the "Tried, Tested and Trixies Tour," which will include their first-ever headlining shows in several arenas, such as London's O2 Arena. They also have upcoming performances scheduled in the United States.