As the Brit-rock guitarist releases a reimagined take on his 1998 solo debut, People Move On, he revisits the no-expenses-spared sessions, the vintage guitars and the ambition in the air
Bernard Butler is one of the great unsung heroes in British rock. A magnificent guitarist and an ingenious producer, his influence made the first two Suede albums magnificently overblown, prog-tinged, cinematic masterpieces that the band never topped after his departure in 1994. His project with David McAlmont reinvented soul for the Britpop generation. And although his solo debut was well received on its release in 1998, it’s tucked into the back of most people’s memories, while the more attention-seeking characters of the era demand the attention of TV’s talking heads. Now he’s remastered the original, an ambitious collection of bluesy indie-rock anthems characterised by his histrionic guitar work.