But Then Again – Album Review

Chris Pope & The Chords UK: But Then Again

(EPOP Records)

CD | DL

Out 4th April 2025

PRE-ORDER HERE

Chris Pope & The Chords UK unleash an epic 44-track collection of songs which tells the story of the band since its glorious reincarnation over a decade ago, alongside his own solo career. It’s an album which reaffirms The Chords UK’s place on the top table of classic British institutions as well as showcasing their own brand of punk-infused power pop which puts the mod into modern day folk.

Since Chris Pope re-incarnated The Chords UK back in 2013, the band have continued to build on their strong reputation which dates back to their emergence in the late 70’s Mod revival, developing their very own brand of punk-infused power pop along the way through the release of new material and incendiary live shows. But whilst Chris has always had more of a focus on the future than the past, it’s clear that he felt the time was right to celebrate the legacy of this great band by bringing together a wealth of material as a ‘Best Of’ and taking it all out on the road to get people dancing again.

The new album But Then Again, is a mammoth 44-song set of new and previously unreleased tracks, remastered, remixed, remade versions of favourites, unashamedly obscure B-sides, and even live recordings, all of which is designed to really tell the story of his own solo career and the band since it regrouped to once again ignite stages. It’s essentially a set of songs that draws on what has gone before but which has now been revisited and breathes new life into a magnificent legacy.

As Chris explains about the impetus for this project, “I decided a few years ago to start work on a ‘compilation/ best of’, of sorts. But simply to add 20 plus songs from six albums onto Vinyl/CD and put it out there: that would be far too easy and wouldn’t interest me one bit! Instead, I looked back at songs from the three Pope albums ‘Grace of God’, ‘Tall Tales’, ‘Peace of Mind’ and the Hat-trick of Chords UK albums ‘Take on Life’, ‘Nowhere Land’ and ‘Big City Dreams’, then picked the ones we knew we could ‘dream up’ again or re-imagine. The new tracks are renderings of unrecorded songs written between 1982 up to 2024. Finally, we hit the acoustic guitars, and some old original Chords tunes got laid down too.”

No collection of Chords UK songs is complete without some uplifting state of the nation addresses such as opening song British Way Of Life, with its sense of resignation that “nothing happens here” and classic lines such as “I swallow my dreams like my beer,” and the social commentary of Eat Sleep Work Repeat, plundering the monotony of everyday life for so many people. And alongside their own brand of high octane-fuelled rock ’n’ roll, one thing that has never been in doubt is the band’s penchant for crafting memorable and anthemic sing-along songs which are big on melodies, and which make you get up and dance. And there are numerous examples of this including the likes of Brave New World, Mutiny On The Thames and One Happy Man.

It’s most definitely an album of many styles and influences including the reggae-infused Analogy Of Life, the driving ska rhythm of Twenty First Century Girl and the guitar-driven power pop of World Gone Crazy, a passionate exploration of all that is corrupt in today’s world which is continually surrounded by “Fake news …. conspiracies, everybody’s got their own version of the truth.” We also get hefty chunk of bluesy slide guitar in All I Ever Wanted (Was to Be Wanted By You).

Among all the rock ’n’ roll madness, we do get to hear the softer side of the band through sentimental songs like Love’s Still Here, Nine To Five And Me, Dreams Of Yesterday and the piano-driven Man On The Northern Line. And then in sharp contrast we get a cluster of swinging party songs like Get Me To Saturday Night and Indie Disco Friday Night which take us on a nostalgia trip back in time with references to the Top 40, T.Rex, Steve Harley and 45s, a period in time when even I remember how it was “so good to be alive.”

As a band who are very much the harbingers of modern day folk we get some classic examples of this through White Van Man, which has a much brighter and poppier feel as it nods back to the old days when Chris spent much of his time driving for a living, and Veronica Jones, which packs a real punch as it regales the tale of a good time girl who is clearly out to have a damn good time.

As ever from a band with such a rich legacy, there is always time for a nod to their heroes with the likes of Hey Kids! Come The Revolution. This might well be a tongue-in-cheek call to arms, but it’s delivered with all the power and attitude of The Clash with a classic arms-aloft anthemic quality which shines right through the majestic chorus lines. Somewhere Beyond The Rainbow is another fearsome collision of a driving rock ’n’ roll rhythm and sharp and angular guitars which references back to the classic times of The Clash from the late 70’s, all enveloped with some infectious vocal harmonies and typically anthemic sing-along chorus lines. As Chris sings, “There’s a world out there and it’s ours for the taking”, you definitely feel that if The Chords UK keep on delivering songs like this, if there is any justice in this world at all then that must surely come true sooner or later.

A stark yet powerful Maybe Tomorrow closes disc two before leading onto a third disc containing a further treasure trove of remasters, new recordings, acoustic and live takes which add even further weight to this pot of rock ’n’ roll gold. It’s also worth noting that the album comes in a beautifully presented 3CD gatefold package complete with lyrics included in an enclosed booklet.

Through this collection of songs, The Chords UK have showcased all that is great about music through their classic blend of punk-infused power pop, glam, punk, reggae, ska, folk and so much more. But Then Again is an album which speaks of the sights, sounds and influences flowing out of the vibrant cultural environment that has enveloped the band as it continued to build its magnificent legacy over the years. The quality of the songs is true testament to how far the band has come from its humble beginnings but is also a signpost to the future in which I have no doubt there is so much more to come.

Chris Pope & The Chords UK have announced extensive touring plans for 2025 with UK dates aligning with both their album release and a subsequent ‘So Far Away’ 45th Anniversary tour, with a nod to their debut album released back in January 1980. The dates confirmed are as follows:

April
04 Norwich, The Waterfront
11 Brighton, Daltons
12 London, 100 Club
17 Reading, Face Bar
18 Peterborough, Club With No Name
19 Paisley, Bungalow Bar
20 Hull, The Haworth
25 Looe, Cornwall (Ska & Mod Festival)
26 Bournemouth, Anvil

May
03 Bristol, Thekla

October
02 Liverpool, The Cavern
03 Manchester, Rebellion
04 Newcastle, The Cluny
25 Hampton, Hub
25 Woking, Fiery Bird
31 Glasgow, Slay

November
01 Edinburgh, Voodoo Rooms
07 Leeds, The Old Woollen
14 Truro, The Old Bakery
15 Bristol, The Exchange

You can buy tickets for the tour dates here or here.

You can pre-order the album here.

You can find Chris Pope & The Chords UK on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.

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All words by Ian Corbridge. You can find more of his writing at his author profile here.