Adrian Borland And The Citizens - Alexandria

The Sound were certainly one of the bands from the post punk era that never really got the recognition they deserved. After their demise in 1988, their lead-singer Adrian Borland moved to the Netherlands and formed Adrian Borland and The Citizens. Released in 1989, Alexandria was his new band’s first album. Following up on the music produced by The Sound was no easy feat, but their popularity in the Netherlands helped. Borland not only proved he was an accomplished songwriter but one capable of delivering accessible songs, if only the public would listen.

Alexandria is a mellow record in comparison to his previous work with The Sound. Passionate and intense, it reveals much about the man behind the songs. His fragile emotional state translates into songs which have an almost optimistic jangly feel yet at times moody and dramatic. Borland uses his voice really well on this record as it plays a large part in carrying the songs. Much of The Sound’s music had a rudimentary unpolished feel, Alexandria however sounds much more sophisticated and mature.

Overall Alexandria could be easily sat alongside early R.E.M., The Mighty Lemon Drops, Dream Syndicate, The Go Betweens, The Replacements and XTC. Adrian produced the album himself, having already worked with a number of independent bands. Vibrators guitar player Pat Collier was drafted in to add his special touch to a few of the songs.

Anyone who calls him or herself a fan of post punk or new wave should seek out the music of Adrian Borland, most certainly if you are into bands like The Chameleons and Comsat Angels.

Edited somewhat from original by THEARCHITECT

Alexandria (1989) marks a poignant and beautifully executed transition for Adrian Borland following the painful collapse of his seminal post-punk outfit, The Sound. Stepping away from the claustrophobic walls of dark wave, Borland used this debut solo project—backed by his backing band, The Citizens—to breath new life into his songwriting. Rather than wallowing in the commercial frustrations that plagued his former band, the album introduces a remarkably open, organic, and acoustic-driven landscape. It serves as a creative rebirth, proving that Borland’s artistry was far larger than the rigid genre boundaries of the 1980s post-punk scene.

Musically, the record trades the driving, synthesizer-heavy tension of From the Lions Mouth for a richer, more melodic palette influenced by folk-pop and indie rock. Across the eleven tracks, Borland strips back the instrumentation to spotlight delicate acoustic guitars, warm string sections, and textured violins. Songs like the opener "Light the Sky" and the breezy "Rogue Beauty" possess a gentle, shimmering clarity that carries a distinct Velvet Underground sensibility. This sonic shift highlights a more serene and accessible side of his work, leaning into a vulnerable, pastoral atmosphere without sacrificing any of his signature emotional weight.

Lyrically, the album finds Borland trading existential dread for intimate, bittersweet introspection and poetic storytelling. He navigates themes of community, personal isolation, and fleeting redemption with a striking sense of tenderness. In tracks like "No Ethereal" and "Beneath the Big Wheel," his vocals carry a bruised yet deeply romantic quality, moving seamlessly between hushed confessions and soaring melodies. The lyricism feels grounded and human, offering a snapshot of an artist searching for light and connection amid the debris of past career disappointments.

Ultimately, Alexandria stands as an overlooked, criminally underappreciated masterpiece in the late-80s alternative rock canon. Because of crippling distribution issues upon its original European release, the record was unfairly relegated to a collector's rarity for decades. However, its brilliant 2024 Record Store Day vinyl reissue finally gave the album the structural spotlight it always deserved. It is a stunning, deeply comforting record that captures Adrian Borland at his most gentle, resilient, and enduringly brilliant.

Ripped from the 1989 CD to MP3 @ 320kbps

Adrian Borland And The Citizens; Alexandria

1.      Light The Sky

2.      Rogue Beauty

3.      Beneath The Big Wheel

4.      Community Call

5.      No Ethereal

6.      Other Side Of The World

7.      Crystalline

8.      Shadow Of Your Grace

9.      Weight Of Stuff

10.   She’s My Heroin

11.   Deep Deep Blue

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