After a long sojourn in the most un-Morrissey place of Los Angeles, Steven Patrick returns with this single from his first album since 1997's Maladajusted. The break has certainly done him good - Irish Blood English Heart is the best thing he's been involved with since The Smiths' heyday.
He may have been immersed in American culture for the last few years but his lyrics remain as English as ever. "I've been dreaming of a time when the English are sick to death of Labour and Tories and spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell," he bellows over a muscular Boz Boorer inspired arrangement, and it's like he's never been away. The infamous accusations of racism obviously still sting as well - "To be standing by the flag not feeling shameful, racist or partial," runs one line.
Those who refuse to succumb to the charm of Moz will be left cold of course, but otherwise admirers of one of England's greatest living songwriters will be excited beyond words at the prospect of an album's worth of this quality. A definite rival to The Pixies as comeback of the year, for sure.
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