IRRITANT

Part XTC and ANTIQUE SEEKING NUNS, part FARMERS MARKET and HOMUNCULUS RES, this band of blokes from Bristol make complex, upbeat, quirky, humorous music over which are sung quite clever, humorous lyrics in many forms and styles.

1. "Spiele mit Katzen" (4:21) (8.5/10)

2. "Chinese Brainworm (T'nia Solium)" (4:48) with a country-Kavus Torabi twang. (9/10)

3. "Re-Mortgaging the Nest of Hairs" (4:12) a mid-tempo instrumental (8/10)

4. "Sorry, You Were Out" (1:24) reminds me of 80s indie-quirk-band IT'S IMMATERIAL.

5. "Have You Got PPI" (4:44) continues from the previous song with an account of a kind of phone telemarketing call. Fun vocal and nice instrumental contributions. (8.5/10)

6. "How Bout a Kiss" (4:06) So XTC-ish! Uncanny! (8.5/10)

7. "Fail Better" (6:35) cool synth octave lead in gives this one an early 70s Canterbury feel. The slow pace and BEATLES-esque vocal arrangements make for an interesting, pretty song. Would've fit nicely on last years THE WINSTONS' debut. (9/10)

8. "Hypertension" (4:15) So many cool quirky-jazz, Canterbury-style things going on this instrumental. Could fit nicely into a HOMUNCULUS RES album. My favorite track on the album. (9/10)

9. "A New Atmosphere" (8:23) klezmer like in opening instruments and rhythm structure, but the B-part goes more prog-Canterbury. Alternates back and forth like this for the first minute before it morphs a little to support a multi- voice vocal--kind of like an early Brit-pop "flower power" band (or very early YES). At the end of the sixth minute it switches into a slow, plodding speed over which a spoken poem is delivered in a NIGEL TUFNEL way. Meant to be funny? I'm sorry, I can't help but laugh. (9/10)

10. "The Monday Club" (7:44) definitely a piece of fusion--fusing jazz, pop, folk, psychedelia, and some proggy sounds. The chorus reminds me of Devon's MAGIC BUS. Love the HOMUNCULUS RES-like instrumental frenzy in the sixth and seventh minutes. Kind of a "Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting" outro. (9/10)

11. "Speile-Jangle" (2:17) strange filler-like song to end the album!?! (7.5/10)

Solid four star album; an excellent album of upbeat, quirky prog pop in a somewhat Canterbury style. Recommended for your listening explorations.