OF ULLAGES AND DOTTLES

3.5 stars. This is THE SMELL OF INCENSE's third studio album but it's been ten years since their last one which was called "Through The Gates Of Deeper Slumber" which for me was a masterpiece. This one is my least favourite of the three and i'm actually surprised that i'm having such a hard time with it. I like it but it's not nearly as satisfying as the last two. One big difference is that Bumble B has pretty much taken over as the lead vocalist. She's good but I do prefer the male vocals.

"Bumbles And Dragons" really surprised me the first time I heard it with the opening distorted guitar and guitar solo that follows. So unlike this band. Vocals and the main melody arrive a minute in. Some aggressive guitar continues to come and go. It turns light before 4 minutes. "Laughing Songs" is pleasant enough and it does have this Folk attitude to it. It ends with samples and experimental stuff. "Where Forlorn Sunsets Flare And Fade" opens with what sounds like Spanish guitar and bass. Marching style drums join in then vocals. Sitar follows. A calm with flute and vocals after 3 1/2 minutes. Themes are repeated.Vocal melodies and mellotron before 8 1/2 minutes followed by flute. "Song" opens with birds singing, in fact I don't think they really leave this song. Light drums, flute and vocals lead the way. This is the song you put on when you want to frolic and prance around in the backyard with your tights on (haha).

"The Golden Knot" is excellent. She sings with more passion and I like the mellotron. It just has a good vibe to it, it's more psychedelic than the others. "The Haunted Chamber" is a good little tune with some prominant guitar. "Well In It" is my favourite. It's kind of haunting early with violin and synths. Vocals a minute in with strummed guitar. Spacey synths before 2 minutes as male vocals (yay) come in. Piano then violin follows. A catchy melody after 4 minutes. A change a minute later as it gets darker, kind of Swedish sounding. Another change 7 minutes in as it calms down. It picks back up after 8 1/2 minutes. "Of Pygmies, Palms And Pirates" opens with a light melody with female vocals. It's more FLOYD-like 1 1/2 minutes in with male vocals, very Psychedelic. Nice guitar too. Female vocals and that lighter sound returns as the contrasts continue.

This is really good but unlike their other two albums there's songs and passages i'm not fond of.

While The Smell Of Incense gained some attention with their two first albums ("All Mimsy Were the Borrogows" from -94 and "Through the Gates of Deeper Slumber" from -97), the third album "Of Ullages and Dottles" was largely ignored when it came in 2007. That's a pity, because this album contains some of the finest songs they've ever made! The bands style is often refered to as a kind of psychedelic folk-prog, but in fact they have developed their own quite unique style with a lot of obvious influences, but always with the distinct Smell Of Incense-sound. The melodies on "Of Ullages.." are particulary good! Sometimes conventional, but always strong. Listen to "Laughing Song" by Lumpy Davy or "The Golden Knot" by Han Solo and you'll hear songwriting of highest standard. I think this album is a sadly overlooked masterpiece! .