Craig Birrell spent two years off the radar, losing his job, his home and the people closest to him, and came out the other side with nothing but his dog, Trevor, and a notebook. Recording as Birrell or Biscuit, he's back with a new single, These Days.
These Days is the second track from his new EP, Lament, out on his own label, Whanga Records. It's the mellower side of Birrell, by his own account, though the lyrics are apparently as sharp as ever.
Coming back from losing nearly everything with just a notebook and a dog for company, and turning that straight into a record rather than sitting on it, is exactly the kind of comeback I want to put some weight behind. It's not dressed up as a marketing moment either – by all accounts it's closer to someone reclaiming a life than relaunching a career.
The track was mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Stefan Brown and co-produced with Jason Shaw of Fuzz Face Studios. Ned Scott of The Egg plays synths and Col Brennan of The Valkarys plays bass – a lineup that came together after Birrell recruited Scott mid-show while supporting Youth, of Killing Joke, at a gig.
Birrell or Biscuit has previously had airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music's Riley & Coe show, The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio, Radio X, BBC Scotland and RTE.
These Days is streaming now.