Brian Bilston and The Catenary Wires - Sounds Made By Humans (2025) Hi-Res

This is a partnership as remarkable as it is inventive and intelligent. From their previous projects, we already knew that singer-songwriters Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey have indie pop gems for the ages in them, and they live up to that reputation with indie pop outfit The Catenary Wires (listen to Mirrorball from their 2021 Birling Gap LP for the most compelling evidence). But on their new full-length album, Sounds Made By Humans, they up their game by collaborating with Brian Bilston, one of the UK’s most popular poets. It turns out to be a perfect match.

Together—with Ian Button on drums and Fay Hallam on keyboard—they deliver thirteen unique tracks where appealing poetry (thematically total in the here and now) and punchy music (played by a full band) have become completely intertwined. Not only do they redefine the use of spoken word in songs, they also give a new meaning to the concept of synergy. It’s tempting to quote from the countless memorable and relatable lines, but that wouldn’t do them justice—really, you just have to listen.

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BRIAN BILSTON is one of the UK’s most popular poets. Having started out by sharing his poems online, Brian now has over half a million followers on social media and a raft of bestselling books.

THE CATENARY WIRES are a group comprising Amelia Fletcher, Rob Pursey and Ian Button. Their critically acclaimed third album ‘Birling Gap’ was released in 2021. Since then, they have been focusing on their other bands, playing around the world with Heavenly (icons of the 90s indiepop scene) and Swansea Sound.

A couple of years ago, word reached Rob and Amelia that Brian had been spotted wearing a Heavenly t-shirt at one of his shows, and was a big fan of their music. Given that they, in turn, were fans of Brian’s poetry, introductions were made, friendships were formed, and ‘Sounds Made By Humans’ took shape.

The album isn’t a set of readings with musical backdrops: it’s a collection of songs, where words and music have become completely intertwined. There are verses, and there are choruses. There is no ‘riffing’, no improvisation. In many ways, Brian’s poems are already like pop songs: brief, direct, and witty; sometimes poignant, sometimes biting and political; but always economical, and always accessible.

Brian Bilston and The Catenary Wires will be performing song-poems at selected UK venues in November 2025. Brian Bilston is also performing his poetry (without music) in a variety of venues throughout 2025.