FRESH MAGGOTS

FRESH MAGGOTS may sound like a great name for a modern day death metal band but this group was nothing of the sort being an English acid folk rock duo that released this sole album in 1971. The duo consisted of Mick Burgoyne and Leigh Dolphin and together they remind me of the psychedelic folk version of Simon & Garfunkel only slightly more aggressive with acoustic guitar arpeggios, electric guitar solos and heavy fuzz. The guitar sounds a little Tull at times and I almost find myself expecting to hear Ian Anderson to start singing. The other instruments include glockenspiel, tambourine, violin and tin whistles but noticeably missing is any percussion. This is a drum-free affair.

The tracks are mostly upbeat in a hippie kind of way but tracks like 'Everyone's Gone To War' lament over the reality of the era. This isn't the most progressive album i've ever heard, it does have some unorthodox song structures albeit fairly short in length with all less than four minutes except the closer 'Frustration' which reaches the six minute mark. The songs are reasonably varied which make it an easy listen.

This album sold poorly and the duo disbanded shortly after its release and it became a cult favorite for decades. I suspect that was due to the name alone since despite being an interesting album it is not the long lost masterpiece that one hopes to uncover years later. I do rather like this. It has a quirky charm all its own. It may not go down in history as one of the best the subgenre has to offer but it is a fun listen throughout its entirety and is catchy enough to love on first listen with some mildly progressive twists and turns that keep it from being forgettable.

The two songs 'Car Song' and 'What Would You Do' which weren't on the original vinyl release are on the CD version and are well worth having as they are actually two of the best songs. Another band that showed potential only to disappear into the seas of history. I am left wondering what kind of flies would have hatched from these acid folk rock making maggots. 3.5 rounded up