The new album from Blake, 'Latest Pop Sounds' was released on 11th January. It is available to buy on iTunes. 'Ordinary Person', the lead single from the album, is available for purchase now from Amazon.co.uk. Read the album review from Overplay here.

Lyrics

Rag Doll

I see you walking down the stairs

I watch you stop and turn and stare

At your reflection in the hall

I see you when you’re with the crowd

I hear you talking much too loud

You don’t hear me when I call

I feel like your rag doll

You’re spinning me round and round

I feel like your rag doll

You’re spinning me round and round

I watch you putting on your face

You crawl into your hiding place

Your eyes are cold behind your smile

But I wish that I could make you see

You’re gonna lose it and you’re gonna lose me

There’s no substance to your style

I’m Not Thinking About You

I used to love you girl but you threw it all away

I used to need you girl but you had to let it slip away

It’s just a part you played and I was playing the fool

It’s just a game you played but I didn’t know the rules

Well I’m not thinking about you

I’m not thinking about where you are tonight

I’m not thinking about you

I’m just telling myself that everything’s alright

I used to call you girl when things weren’t going great

I used to care for you girl but now you’ve thrown it all back in my face

It’s just a part you played and I was playing the fool

It’s just a game you played but I didn’t know the rules

Well I’m not thinking about you

I’m not thinking about where you are tonight

I’m not thinking about you

I’m just telling myself that everything’s alright

I remember the day we met and the time of our first kiss

It’s nothing I can’t forget and I know I’m not gonna miss

Envy Street

Mrs Jones has got a new conservatory

A special treat now that they’re back from holiday

She’s got three children and she loves them too

She sees them every time they’re back from boarding school

Mr Brooks has got himself a new lover

She’s seventeen she is a friend of his mother

He promised he would never take her too far

Just once or twice around the block in his brand new car

They live on Envy Street at the bottom of Avarice Row

Their lives are oh so sweet, it’s a shame it’s all a show, but they don’t know, they don’t know

Mrs Smith she likes to go to yoga

It helps her when she’s looking over her shoulder

Cos Mrs Daniels has a brand new fridge

And Mrs Johnson won a cup for playing Bridge

Mr Heath works for the local college

He’s got a thirst but it not for knowledge

He likes to put away a bottle of day

Of brandy cocktail done the Alexander way

They live on Envy Street at the bottom of Emptiness Row

Their lives are oh so sweet, it’s a shame it’s all a show, but they don’t know, they don’t know

Mrs Cherry gets her dishwasher mended

She goes to church to get her life extended

She helps the homeless get back on their feet

She wants to keep them well away from

Mr Wilson is a health inspector

He’s proud of working in the public sector

But underneath he knows it’s all a sham

And if he’s honest he don’t really give a damn

They live on Envy Street on the opposite side of the road

Their lives are incomplete, it’s a shame it’s all a show, but they don’t know, they don’t know

Sue

Sue I’m feeling kinda blue

It’s true it’s all because of you

Well I know that I should be stronger

But I can’t wait a minute longer

Sue, what are you gonna do?

Oh Sue, you make me feel brand new

Oh Sue, there’s nothing we can’t do

La la la la la la la la etc

Sue I know you’re feeling blue

Won’t you say that you want me too

Cos I know that you can’t forget it

And I promise you won’t regret it

Sue what else can I do?

Oh Sue, you make me feel brand new

Oh Sue, there’s nothing we can’t do

La la la la la la la la etc

Ordinary Person

Well I can’t live inside your dreams, baby

And everything that glitters is not the way it seems

But open up your eyes and you’ll see

It’s a good thing that could be, it’s a good thing that could be

Well I can’t always remember all my lines, baby

But I just wish that sometimes you really wouldn’t mind

Or think that someone else could play my part

Cos it’s a good thing that could start if you listen to your heart

Cos when it comes down to it I’m an ordinary person, baby

And if I face up to it, I ain’t never gonna change

And I’m sorry but I can’t be

All the things you want me to be

But if you take me as I am we’ll be OK

Well I just can’t live up to your ideals, baby

And I’m no superhero but you’re the same as me

We both gotta face reality

It’s a good thing that could be, it’s a good thing you and me

Well, you always say I live with my head in the clouds, baby

But you know we got something that’s rooted in the ground

And baby I know that I’ve made some mistakes

But there’s a good thing we could make and it’s a chance we gotta take

Cos when it comes down to it I’m an ordinary person, baby

And if I face up to it, I ain’t never gonna change

And I’m sorry but I can’t be

All the things you want me to be

But if you take me as I am we’ll be OK

Well I can’t help the things that I feel

But the way you criticise me is driving me to tears

Don’t you see that I can give you something money can’t buy

Cos I love you

Honest girl I love you

And I guess it’s not down to me

But if you want your chance to be free

Just don’t forget I think that we could be OK

Oooh, it’s gonna be OK

Goodbye

I was lying on the bed with all the words you said

Going round and around in my head

I was thinking of you and all the things we used to do

Going round and around in my head

You know that I know you don’t love me anymore

I know that you don’t even care

Well I guess there’s nothing left to say, goodbye

Well you never loved me anyway, goodbye

I was sitting in the park till the evening sky grew dark

Going round and around in my head

I was thinking of us and all the things that we discussed

Going round and around in my head

You know that I know you don’t love me anymore

I know that you don’t even care

Well I guess there’s nothing left to say, goodbye

Well you never loved me anyway, goodbye

Now I’m sitting on a beach with a cold drink within reach

Going round and around in my head

I’m not thinking of you because I got somebody new

Going round and around in my head

I know that you know I don’t love you anymore

You know that I don’t even care

Well I guess there’s nothing left to say, goodbye

Well I never loved you anyway, goodbye

The Ballad of John Hooper

John Hooper was born in the shadows

In 1495

Converted on the Somerset levels

His faith forced him to fly

On rough seas crossing over the water

In Strasbourg took a bride

Found shelter till the King was anointed

Then returned to his side

And he cried “Have mercy upon me”

As he prayed in the night

“Have mercy upon me”

My Lord Jesus Christ “Have mercy”

At Gloucester the King made him bishop

He gave his heart to the poor

Educated his clergy and taught them the words

To the prayer of the Lord

But the King was dead before manhood

Bloody Mary took the throne

Imprisoned for what he believed in

Then condemned to be burned

And he cried “Have mercy upon me”

As the flames leapt high

“Have mercy upon me”

My Lord Jesus Christ “Have mercy”

You’re So Square

Have you ever, have you looked inside

Cos if you did it, you would be surprised

Cos there’s nothing inside of you and nothing that you ever say is true

Well do you ever think where you’re really at

Have you wondered are you like this or that

Cos I know where you’re coming from and it’s a place where I don’t belong

You’re so square you’re nowhere

You think you’re smart but you’re just unaware

You’re so square you’re nowhere

There’s nothing there

You think you’re pretty you think you’re pretty hip

You think you’re wanted but it is just a trip

Cos there’s nothing inside of you and nothing that you ever say is true

They got your number they got your DNA

They got your picture but girl I’m sorry to say

That no-one likes a girl who thinks she’s it

And no-one’s listening cos you’re talking shit

Nothing Left To Lose

So are you going down

I can see your eyes are closing

You’re waiting for the ground

To cover you but just supposing

You fill the hole by burying your sadness

Cos you’ve got nothing left to lose

But you’ve got everything to gain

What you get is what you choose

Wish I could take away your pain

You don’t know what you’ve got

Just look inside and look around you

You know no matter what

I’ll always be so glad I found you

I wish you knew what I was thinking

So are you going down

Do you see shadows forming

But listen to the sound

The voice there gently calling

When you awake cos it’s a new day

My T Rex

Do you get the feeling something’s following you?

All is familiar but something’s new

But hey hey hey hey hey hey you better beware

I heard a footstep now it sounds like another

Not gonna stay here got me running for cover

But hey hey hey hey hey hey I’d better beware

It’s funny how peculiar you seem

Now that I’ve left you you’ve turned all mean

You’re my T Rex

Jumped off the bed and quickly ran to the door

All I remember then is hitting the floor

But hey hey hey hey hey hey I’d better beware

It’s funny how peculiar you seem

Now that I’ve left you you’ve turned all green

You’re my T Rex

All songs written by Julian Pugsley except 'Rag Doll' by Julian Pugsley and Russell Mulligan and 'My T Rex' by Julian Pugsley and Juliette Prais © Rockhopper Records 2009.

  Sleeve Notes

Rag Doll (Pugsley/Mulligan)

Blake – vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, programming.

I’d always wanted to begin a track with a drone and tambura, but until recently I’d never known how to do it. This was a song I wrote with Russell Mulligan (of The Cuban Heels) years ago - probably 1999. It always had the eastern vibe to it. I changed the middle eight/instrumental break for this recording, mashing in (as they say) the instrumental section from another song, Feeling Fine.

I’m Not Thinking About You (Pugsley)

Blake – vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass.

Chris Scrivens – drums.

This song is another ‘mash-up’, in that the verses come from a song that I wrote when in Karmatruffle, ‘Don’t Throw It All Away’ while the bridge and chorus were written while on holiday in France in the summer. It’s my attempt to write a bona-fide commercial pop song, that hopefully someone famous will like to record. One at a time, please.

Envy Street (Pugsley)

Blake - vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums.

Paul Kench – electric guitar.

This is another Dandelions-era track. I wrote it while working at Cheltenham Jobcentre in 2001 and all the characters in the song are based on people I met there. It’s supposed to emulate that mid-sixties Kinks/Beatles sound.

Sue (Pugsley)

Blake - vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, bongos, programming.

This track is very me. I guess I’m trying to do a Danny Kirwan thing with the ‘la la la’ in the chorus. I made a demo of this when I was living in Stow in 2002 and I simply re-recorded it to the letter, including the bongos! The new part is the harmony vocals – that’s Joe’s influence. I’m not sure who it’s about though; I’ve never been out with anyone called Sue.

Ordinary Person (Pugsley)

Blake - vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, percussion.

This is the single. I was trying to get that sixties production thing going, with the tambourine up front. The first song I recorded for this project.

The Blue Room (Pugsley)

Blake – keyboards, programming, acoustic guitar, bass, percussion.

This is the instrumental version of this song. The one with the vocal lasts for over five minutes and I was worried that it was just too long (i.e. boring). It was written following an excellent night out at a particular gentlemen’s club. No further details available.

Goodbye (Pugsley)

Blake - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums, harmonica.

Joe Brown – organ.

Originally written in 2004, I never got round to recording this one, but was encouraged to after Paul said he liked it.

The Ballad Of John Hooper (Pugsley)

Blake - vocals, acoustic guitar, drums.

What does every pop album in the noughties need? A song about a sixteenth century bishop, of course, especially one martyred for his religious beliefs! I was going to call the LP ‘John Hooper, Martyr’ and had the cover designed and everything: Hooper being burned at the stake from a sixteenth century lithograph. I then realised that I was limiting my already minimal chances of having a hit beyond reckoning and went for something that better represented my music as a whole.

You’re So Square (Pugsley)

Blake – vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums.

This punk-style diatribe was written after I fell out with the former singer of The Dandelions who turned out to be quite a piece of work, but it’s actually directed at her girlfriend who really thought she was it.

Nothing Left To Lose (Pugsley)

Blake – vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, keyboards.

This is a very personal song that was written in the year 2000.

My T Rex (Pugsley/Prais)

Blake – vocals, bass, electric guitar.

Paul Kench – lead guitar.

Chris Scrivens – drums.

I wrote this with the second female singer of The Dandelions. She came up with a load of lyrics and I edited them into a song. We used to finish our gigs with it and, as I suggested before, Paul used to do his thing at the end and drench it in a load of wah and feedback. . Good times. He did it once more for your listening pleasure.

Daisy (Pugsley)

Blake – acoustic guitar, keyboards, programming.

I wrote this for my daughter when we were in France in the summer.

All songs © Rockhopper Records 2009 Produced by Blake. Recorded at home and at St Katharine’s Church, Holt and Nine Volt Leap studios, Melksham. Back cover photography by Alan Tyghe. Tray photography by Angela Pugsley. Thanks to: Sarah, Cas, Mum, Dad, Paul, Chris, Joe, Port Erin, Alan & everyone at St. K's. This record is dedicated to Daisy Hope Pugsley.

"God will draw to the divine life all whom God wishes, in the ways God wishes; for truth, and the way to truth, belong to God and not to us." Keith Ward       

Album review from Overplay.com:

"With a cover photo fresh out of the August 1969 issue of Groovy Interiors magazine, you arrive at this lp with certain expectations. Namely, that Bath singer/songwriter Blake, AKA Julian Pugsley, likes his music with a drop of Mellow Yellow in the mix. And, when you listen to it, you realise that’s true. But that’s not all. Across the 12 tunes on this lp, there are plenty of cleverly crafted ‘60s-inflected mini pop gems. However, Blake finds room for a few synths, a couple of garage rock fizzles and the odd indie fringe-shaker.

In fact, opening track “Rag Doll” is a proper wrong-footer. Misty effects and wavy eastern synths lay on some metaphorical dry ice before the regimented guitar and icy Ian Brown delivery turn it into something like Joy Division with added disco. If you’re left feeling chilly, “I’m Not Thinking About You” follows this up with a big T-Rex cuddle of flighty acoustic bubblegum. All before “Envy Street” splits the difference with a Reverend & The Makers meets The Kinks bit of spiky social commentary; containing the album’s best lyric, “Mrs Jones has got a new conservatory.”

As this seesaw of frothy wiggling and moody introspection continues, it makes for an interesting ride. From the trippy bounce of “Sue”, you’re taken to the big, bleepy Kraftwerk shapes of “The Blue Room.” Then, from the woozy, Dylanesque charm of “Goodbye,” you’re kicked out in to the cold with the windswept Johnny Cash vibe of “The Ballad Of John Hooper.” And while “You’re So Square” and “My T Rex” possess the beautifully fuzzed-out atmos of The Velvet Underground, “Ordinary Person” has all the anthemic architecture of classic Oasis. Only without taking itself too seriously. Thank God.

The stylistic mood swings on ‘Latest Pop Sounds…’ make for an entertaining listen. But luckily every track has the same keen sense of melody that no amount of weird effects and Wedding Present feedback can ever compensate for. Good, solid pop music. Even down to the baby gurglings and crystalline acoustics that make up final track “Daisy.” John Lennon may have made half the world cringe with “Beautiful Boy”, but here Blake has the good sense to leave the vocals to the infant."