Drawing upon the wispy fragile webs of alt-country psychedelia spun already by Sparklehorse, Mercury Rev, and Giant Sand the Liverpool eight-piece are hardly what you’d expect if you were even half aware of the origins of their name – a steal from one of the most significant Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band tracks from Trout Mask Replica, no less. But not for them the madly eccentric art-house nonsense. No siree. Frontman John Yates leads his melancholy ensemble through a half dozen or so tracks of coy, whispering sadness and twilight earnestness. It’s the sound of the door creaking and the insects stirring just around dawn when all manner of quiet life is roused from sleep and ushered faithfully toward the light. Opening song, ‘Noisy Insects’ is a case in point with its curiously tripping beats, slow mo guitars and gently swelling flutes. The lazy accordion and alto sax pulse of ‘Park Lane Speakers’ is a similar proposition – with only Yates’ timorous yet excitable vocal and a George Harrison namecheck offering anything by way of disturbance. More animated, however, but hardly threatening to fully rouse these beautiful sleepers, are songs like ‘They Called For Us’ and ‘Wonderful’ whose lightly skipping cheeriness is sweetened by the perky vocal of dollish band member Kate Walsh and some cheeky, eccentric ivory tickling.
Supported by an able cast of pedal-steel guitars, harmonicas and harmoniums it’s an prodigious and pretty affair that whilst offering nothing more than isn’t already on Sparklehorse’s ‘Wonderful Life’ or the Cardigan’s ‘Long Gone Before Daylight’ is a still a sweet and enjoyable listen and distinguished by some surprising guest appearances from the Mothers of Invention’s Jimmy Carl Black on the gritty, skeleton rock of ‘My Favourite Punk Tune’ and the utterly beautiful hidden track, ‘On A Beach’.
As pastoral and yearning as The Starlet’s ‘Surely Tomorrow You’ll Feel Blue’ and as generously smooth as Air’s ‘Moon Safari’ – it’s a complex, debilitating but ultimately fulfilling experience all the same.