A Model World is Indignation Meeting’s second album. It’s also their second album entirely about railways or model railways.
As an enthusiast (with zero knowledge) myself, I’m all for it. You can’t beat the sound of a 37 diesel accelerating away from a suburban station.
Neil Young, Rod Stewart & Pete Waterman all own splendid set ups of their own. Who’s to argue with those kind of luminaries?
In fact these are the best railway songs I’ve heard since Half Man Half Biscuit’s rendition of ‘Time Flies By When You’re the Driver of a Train‘. From the bass led, fast paced opening of ‘The Trainspotting Song‘ to the final ‘Just For the Record’ this collection is a refreshing, total joy.
The Leeds band negotiate a pathway through as many trials and tribulations of the Model Railway world as could possibly be imagined.
Rather like the brilliant Detectorists comedy series, these hobbyists set out to celebrate their chosen passion. A bloody good job they do of it too. I didn’t experience any leaves on the line during this journey at all.
The driver of this particular journey is Peter Hirst, who not only writes the songs, he also sings, plays drums, trumpet, takes the photographs and probably made the sandwiches and swept the studio too. He’s ably assisted by his Dad, Michael, on guitar , Hugo Hatcher on bass and guitarist Keith Tyndall. This is all the more impressive, owing to the fact that Pete is still just a teenager.
You could do a lot worse than buy this album. You don’t have to be into trains. I guess it would help a little. I’m hoping the third album might perhaps include the Nene Valley or maybe even The Wroxham Barns. We’ll see.
Loved it.
A Model World is out now on Damaged Goods.
