David Palfreyman – “Opening Time For The Battered”

David Palfreyman’s new album Opening Time For The Battered feels like the work of someone who’s been around music long enough to know exactly what he wants to say. It blends rock, folk, and a bit of pop, all delivered with a steady, confident touch, and David started recording back in 1980 when he was still in school, and you can hear that lifelong connection to music in every track. Nothing here feels forced; it sounds like he’s doing what comes naturally.

The musicians joining him are an impressive bunch. David Clayton from Simply Red handles keyboards, actor Ben Miles plays bass (yes, the actor from Andor), and the drums are shared by Martyn Barker and Chris Musto. Gary Barnacle adds saxophone parts that give some tracks extra warmth, while Rodger Hanna’s guitar ties everything together. The album was mixed by Ian Caple, with Grammy winner Jim Lowe engineering the first two songs.

After his earlier collaboration with Nicholas Pegg on Decades and his recent work on the film Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade, this release feels like a solid next step. Opening Time For The Battered was released on September 26, 2025. Follow David Palfreyman online to stay updated on what he’s releasing through the rest of the year.