Antony Szmierek: Service Station at the end of the universe

Today, one of our most hotly anticipated albums of 2025 graces record store shelves and streaming service playlists; Antony Szmierek's Service Station at the End of the Universe.

An artist who has gone from underground hero to BBC 6 Music poster boy, to making national news headlines, all in the space of 3 years, it feels as though this week all eyes (and ears) have been fixated on Manchester, patiently waiting for Szmierek 's debut. Lovingly and gradually baked in the furnace of the Manchester music scene, Service Station at the End of the Universe is finally here, and ready for release into the world.

The album begins with it's namesake, Service Station at the End of the Universe, in which Szmierek takes us on a journey through this imaginary yet eerily accurate space. In his own signature style he captures the beauty, hope, and sadness in the passing moments, perfectly encapsulating the liminality of these big soulless, timeless places that anyone who's been on a road trip around the UK will relate to.

A punching, almost industrial drum sequence opens the track, and subsequent album, commanding attention, as though to say "listen up, we're going for a ride." Throughout Szmierek's lists off all of the usual suspects, fitness fanatics with yoga mats, kids in onesies, and those still nursing a hangover from the night before. "Its quarter to 5 somewhere" he quips, as he guides us around a space that is everywhere and nowhere all at the same time.

Next up is Rafters, a fun, feel good track released at the height of the 2024 festival season, which is sure to continue to be a summer anthem well into 2025 and beyond. Following on is headline grabbing single Great Pyramid of Stockport, in which Szmierek documents his lifelong fascination with one of Greater Manchester's most iconic buildings (or eyesores depending which side of the debate you're on).

One of the album's stand outs is Big Light, something truly different from Szmierek. A love story filled with distinctly British Idioms and depicting the nervousness of that treasured first kiss under the moon.. or the big light, both equally as special in Szmierek's eyes.

With vocals that will have you wondering if Antony is actually the reincarnation of the legendary voice of Maxi Jazz, (the late Faithless frontman), and an angelically harmonizing choir, the track is elevated to a soul pop classic.

Those familiar with Antony’s previous work will instantly recognize the fantastically funky bassline that carries 2024’s single Yoga Teacher, a song that tells the story of an anything less than meditative yoga session, all while compelling all who listen to dance.

Crumb continues the love story of the first kissers we met earlier in the track listing. Characters and motifs repeat continuously throughout the album, and those with a keen ear will be the first to notice Szmierek crafting his dreamlike yet hyper realistic world, approaching the album like a collection of short stories. Would we expect anything less from the former English Teacher?

Sticking true to his roots, Szmierek has even included a spoken word track in the form of passingthru, which features a moving poem voiced by well loved Glaswegian poet Katie Ireland. The beautifully poignant prose :"This country is divided but at least all of our service stations look the same" followed by:

"Here I could be anyone, heartbroken, disgraced, on the run, we all look different but we're just passing throuh” highlighting how although divided, we are all united in our imperfect human experience.

The album is brought to a fantastic crescendo, with Angie’s Wedding, a song which could be straight out of 808 State’s back catalogue, bringing a slice of 90’s Ibiza to the modern day M62. The track allows all the characters we’ve met throughout the album to converge together to ‘watch Angie cut her cake’ in a working men’s club, a triumphant and hopeful season finale as such.

With mentions of Mancunian folklore littered throughout, from the 'Didsbury Dozen' to the aforementioned 'Great Pyramid', Szmierek firmly secures his status as a hometown hero on Service Station at the End of the Universe. That's not to say this is an album exclusively for the enjoyment of fellow Mancs, far from it actually. Service Station at the End of the Universe is once again proof of Szmierek's powerfully poignant lyricism. His ability to capture the little moments that make life so beautiful and unique speaks to something deep within all of us, regardless of age, location, or background.

The release of this debut is set to take Antony Szmierek firmly out of the ‘ones to watch’ category, and catapult him even further into the spotlight, with household name status surely on the not too distant horizon.

Catch Antony Szmierek on tour this March and April, grab your tickets here: https://www.antonyszmierek.co.uk/