THE ALIENS
Astronomy For Dogs (Pet Rock/EMI; CD)
     The history of pop music is rife with stories of misunderstood geniuses who, thanks to a combination of chemical imbalances and (often prodigious) chemical intakes, flipped their proverbial wigs. For the most part these stories see said tormented soul deliver a musical masterpiece only to retreat into a private obscurity where the outside world is held at bay. The occasional signal is transmitted through the ether to the collective consciousness but for the most part sound is followed by silence. Happily there are cases where healing occurs and it is possible for our hero to re-emerge from his isolation.
     So Gordon Anderson - ex of The Beta Band and also known under the solo moniker of Lone Pigeon - returns into the light, fully formed, after his long absence and for this we are deeply thankful. In the company of his Beta Band cohorts Robin Jones and John Maclean and operating under the Aliens moniker, Mr. Anderson delivers what must surely be one of the most wonderful records of recent memory. What you get is a fine slab of contemporary psychedelia with a cheeky nod to the past and more than a wink to the future. It starts out with a riff lifted from 'Along the Watchtower' and from there blasts off into the pop stratosphere. As you travel the space-ways, and look out of the window you will pass clusters of soaring vocal harmonies, slowly spinning planets made of farfisas and guitars, star formations that blend contemporary electronica with sweeping symphonic pop and the occasional musical rocket with its controls set firmly for the heart of the sun. It is hard to contain the enthusiasm that this album generates – we can only hope that through everyone's collective efforts, we will hear it wafting out of every window and doorway in the world providing us with a suitably celestial accompaniment to our daily business while making this planet a better place. Please embrace this message – these Aliens come in peace.
www.thealiens.co.uk
www.myspace.com/thealiens1
Arthur Cravan

THE BEES
Octopus (Virgin; CD)
     A few summers ago, The Bees burst onto the scene emerging from a hive of hyperactive musical activity to present the world with the delicious pot of honey that was Sunshine Hit Me. Like the title would suggest, their blend of psychedelia, funk, reggae and tropicalia made for a wonderful summer soundtrack for everyone while managing to melt even the hardest of hearts in the process. The follow up was called Free the Bees and saw them expanding the palette into bigger guitar work-outs with hints of Nilsson style pop-ery and more forays into the world of greasy funk all of which again served as a perfect sonic backdrop to the barbecue season. Now they present us with the multi-tentacled Octopus which continues their odyssey into the sounds of the past and – I see a pattern emerging here reader - just in time for summer. The Bees fly from musical flower to flower in the maddeningly zig zag way that is the preserve of the insect world going about its business. So prepare to travel from the Ringo-fronting-The-Beatles style opener straight into a mellow Byrdsian rocker that mutates into brassy rock steady and a splash of mariachi style funk peppered with late Specials Jerry Dammerisms which then yields to a sitar-jews harp-finger-picked guitar slice of tropicalia (complete with Portuguese verses) only to end on some organ grinding foot stompers. So there you have it, an enjoyable journey to the land of milk and honey and back again. Pass the sunblock please, summer is here.
www.thebees.info
Arthur Cravan

PETER LACEY
Permanent Wave (Pink Hedgehog; CD)
     Singer-songwriter Peter Lacey's talent for gentle, wistful melodies is strongly to the fore on the aptly tilted 'Sublime', which would fit comfortably on a Brian Wilson album. The other instrumental, 'Caravel' is also atmospheric.
     Having released five albums Peter Lacey must be heartily fed up of being told that his voice sounds similar to Paul McCartney, but there's no getting away from it. There is no sense of deliberate imitation, and I could think of far worse people to sound like! There are some well written vocal numbers, such as 'Miss Tere', the story of an enigmatic girl who might be thinking of "new shoes or Wittgenstein". Girls can multi-task, so she's probably considering both!
     However, this album loses its way about half way through, with a series of pleasant but ordinary songs that fail to excite, instrumentally or vocally. At six minutes plus 'Peter The Chanter' is overlong. The likes of 'Blow the Cobwebs' and 'Lines & Squares' are anonymous. It is difficult to dislike the tunes, which are subtly, quietly tuneful, but only about half of the 15 songs here really display Peter at his most memorable.
www.pinkhedgehog.com
Phil Suggitt

TIM PARE
Trans-Siberian Express (Illicit; CD)
     The story of the creation of the songs on this album is living proof of the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction. In 2004 Tim Pare split with his partner, quit his job, sold his house in Sheffield and took a teaching job in China. Returning on the Trans-Siberian Express, he paid a Russian soldier in vodka for an old guitar, playing songs to placate the numerous aggressive conscripts who threatened robbery with violence. Tim wrote a collection of songs in the Russian wastes, six of which are featured on this mini-album. Robbed of almost everything but the demo tape in St. Petersburg, he was determined to persevere with the songs. For a fascinating read, the whole story is to be found at www.timpare.com
     Tim's songs are largely gentle, slow paced acoustic folk numbers focussing on his warm voice. The songs really come to life with the addition of backing vocals from Tom Jarvis and Jemina…. Jarvis also adds tasteful keyboard and guitar embellishments. Songs like the sad 'Shoot To Win' and the fine opener 'Exorcism' exhibit a quiet power – in general the songs won't bowl you over on first hearing, but they are well worth further investigation.
www.illicitrecordings.com
Phil Suggitt

DEL REY & THE SUN KINGS
Battleship Potemkin (Trakwerx; CD)
     This is a new score for Sergei Eisenstein's classic Bolshevik propaganda film about the Czarist naval mutiny. The liner artwork is intriguing but mysterious. There is very little information about the concept or the musicians and the lettering is in Cyrillic. Reproduction USSR stamps commemorating the Potemkin incident and early postcard watercolours of the battleship are included.
     The first tracks are eerie, hauntingly atmospheric acoustic pieces, in an ambient new age style which has little in common with the usual Shindig! fare. Gradually it becomes apparent that this is a score, not a soundtrack. Unfortunately a score can't be fully appreciated unless you are watching the movie at the same time. Unlike a pop soundtrack, this music has been written to support the moods and action of a silent film. Pieces with titles like 'Vakulinchuk Acts' are meant to complement the visuals, and don't 'stand alone'. One or two of the gentle violin or keyboard pieces work as songs, but most of the other pieces are difficult and difficult to listen to without the movie.
www.trakwerx.com
Phil Suggitt