David Palfreyman - Opening Time For The Battered (2025)

David Palfreyman has been making music since 1980. He made his debut when he provided trombone for the 1980 album, The Sound of Rhodian Brass. Like Paul McCartney who put down his trumpet and switched to guitar, Palfreyman did the same. Besides picking up the guitar and developing his skills as a writer and producer, he also studied acting. And while he made a name for himself as an actor, his first love was rock ‘n’ roll. He contributed to some fantastic songs and brilliant albums (most notably the 2017 rock musical Decades he wrote with Nicholas Pegg), Opening Time for the Battered marks his debut as a solo artist under his own name (he did release a couple of albums under the name Malf).

Opening Time for the Battered is, quite simply, a brilliant album. It is full of quirky pop songs that weave in some alternative, straight ahead rock, and folk. It brings to mind the classic singer-songwriter albums of the 1970s. Palfreyman does not sound like James Taylor at all, but like those albums there is a variety of sounds that all come together to make a pretty great album. Songs like “Overtime Hours” build into a solid rocker while “Greatest Day” rocks from the beginning. Then you have beautiful ballads like the beautiful “You Said It So.” And then songs like “Why’s It Taken Us So Long” and “Your Days My Days” dip their toes in 1980s alternative.

Vocally, Palfreyman brings to mind Julian Lennon. Again, he is not copying, but he does, at times, seem to be channeling Mr. Lennon. And he does get help from some very notable musicians such as drummer Martyn Barker (Shriekback/Marianne Faithfull/Billy Bragg), drummer Chris Musto (Joe Strummer/Johnny Thunders/Glen Matlock), saxophonist Gary Barnacle plays his trademark saxophone and lead guitarist Rodger Hanna (Decades/Same Old Sun). The musicians play together and sound like a band that has been together for 20 years. They play off each other and create a brilliant sound and they are able to shift gears within songs.

In addition, keyboardist David Clayton (Simply Red) and bassist Ben Miles bring a great deal to the album as well. The musicians play together and sound like a band that has been together for 20 years. They play off each other and create a brilliant sound and they are able to shift gears within songs.

The production of the album is flawless. It is well recorded and has a very warm sound. It is an album in which it is easy to get lost in the music and personal lyrics. Palfreyman’s voice is stunning and adds another layer to the album. The songs are melodic and come together brilliantly. It is an album, not a collection of songs or singles, but a complete album. Opening Time for the Battered is an album of discovery. Each spin and each time one listens to it, one can hear something new. The album never gets tiring and does not overstay its welcome. If anything, by the time it is over, the listener is left wanting more. Palfreyman has come up with an incredible album, full of exciting, new sounds.

‘Opening Time for the Battered’ David refers to as his debut solo album, musically aided by bassist Ben Miles, lead guitarist Rodger Hanna, David Clayton on keyboards, drummers Martyn Barker & Chris Musto and Gary Barnacle on sax. Cats In Space’s Greg Hart guests on ‘Overtime Hours’.

With its warm production sound makes this an album a joy to listen to. Highlights include ‘Life Begins at 60’, a song with a retro lyric and lots of lush keyboards, or ‘Overtime Hours’, which also features plenty of keyboards, along with subtle guitar and a big chorus makes for a grandiose ending to the album.

Hints of prog pop on ‘Locked Door Key’, an extremely catchy tune and little wonder it was released as the album’s lead single. Next single could well be the 80’s pop vibe of ‘Your Days My Days’, or perhaps ‘Highway View’ – if Tom Petty came from Chesterfield it may sound like this! Loving the guitars and sax outro.

David Palfreyman has created a collection of songs that have plenty of melody and thoughtful lyrics. Worthy of a listen and an album that provides a musical balm in these troubled times.