The Durutti Column - A Paean To Wilson

Tony Wilson always wanted Vini Reilly to make music.

Reilly’s The Durutti Column were Mr. Manchester’s favourite band, and the first to sign to Factory Records - which ensures that ‘A Paean To Wilson’ is a deeply personal collection of songs, as Reilly grieves for the loss of his close friend. Be it the delicate Spanish guitar on ‘Quatro’, the lonely trumpet on ‘Along Came Poppy’ or the poignant Marvin Gaye sample (“Brother, brother / There’s too many of us dying”) on ‘Brother’, Reilly’s exquisite instrumentation conveys both an intense sadness and a celebratory joy.

‘Paean To Wilson’ is a requiem for the bond of eternal friendship, and a beautiful, and entirely fitting, eulogy.

8/10

Words by John Freeman