Billy Traxler releases debut solo album

Billy Traxler has long been a figure on the fringes of the UK’s alt-rock scene; watchful, reflective and disarming in his ability to turn life’s small details into sharp, emotionally engaging songs. Based near Bath, he first surfaced as a solo artist in 2019 with the release of “Trashed Angel”, a track he’d originally penned back in 2002 while fronting his former band, The Motorpool. Though it arrived late, the song marked the start of a new chapter for Billy that’s since taken shape in a body of work defined by bruised realism, sardonic wit and honest songwriting.

His musical journey stretches back over two decades, with The Motorpool, he toured from London to New Zealand, earning a loyal live following with the band’s emotive brand of indie rock. Alongside fronting the group, he ran Battenburg Studios in Battersea, where he recorded and mixed records for other acts, shaping the UK’s underground sound from behind the scenes. But while those years were packed with noise and movement, it’s in his solo work where Billy Traxler’s songwriting has truly found its focus.

Now, with the release of his debut solo album titled Only in my Dreams, he fully embraces his solo musical vision. Written across two very different landscapes, a cramped London flat and a rural farm in Bath, the album reflects the shift in physical surroundings while staying tied in his lyrical explorations of insomnia, parenthood, resentment, politics and even the existential hazard of taking out the bins.

The album’s production, recorded and mixed at home on a laptop saw some tracks captured in a single take, while others were dragged out through long sessions of self-editing. With contributions from Colin Parkinson on bass and lyrical input from Billy’s uncle Alan Daly providing a poignant touch, the release distils Billy Traxler’s decorated musical adventure into a superb listening experience from start to finish.

Opened by “Resistance is All,” the soft bubble of synth textures, click of percussion and echo of twanging guitar tones forms an immersive soundscape as Billy’s airy voice glides above. Building with the shuffle of drums and pulse of bass, he crafts a memorable outing that flows through stripped back moments and grooving art rock vibes while framing a hopeful message of standing up for what you believe it.

“Enough Bile” follows with an uptempo indie rock sound driven by lively percussion and intricate guitar backing as Billy’s breezy vocals thread catchy leads. Leaning into a more delicate indie folk sound on “Long Way Home,” Billy frames his moving songwriting in a mellow arrangement of gentle bass and guitar, tinged with the hazy swirl of synths, offering an intimate and tender moment on the record.

Elsewhere, he turns his lens inward on tracks like “Trashed Angel,” revisiting that early moment of solo emergence to offer a stark portrait of life in Streatham. “The Killer Wave” glances at emotional fallout on a slick indie jam driven by the steady march of drums and softly delivered vocals. “Disarray” delivers Billy’s take on the current state of affairs that takes a swing at government incompetence and spiralling societal noise wrapped up in a buoyant soundscape of bouncing rhythms and infectious hooks.

“No Shoes Blues”, set to lyrics written by his late uncle Alan, is an understated moment of familial reflection, its sentiment heavy but never overblown in this soulful rock outing of shimmering guitar tones and smooth melodic flickers. Closing the album with “Shout Out,” Billy serves up one final moment of his charming indie rock sound with a delightful outing that’s truly impossible not to love, concluding his stellar debut record as a solo artist.

Listen to Only in my Dreams below