This is an album that came as a surprise. I had never thought that such a group, combined with the same old musicians, would be able to regroup every inspiration and experience they have had these last years. Its members have been involved with their own different projects and came up with such a masterpiece as a heritage for us.
A few words for the album: there are some pop and theatrical features, quite cult in parts and, towards the end, romantic and playful, full of emotions —clearly inspired by B movies and European music from the ‘70s.
First track, ‘Aviation’: a brief intro by a violin that fades, and, if you remember the beginning of their last album, you are inclined to think that you are going to listen to the same old music – maybe they think of it as their lucky rabbit’s foot. It makes a rather theatrical entrance and, effortlessly, it leads you down roads of thought. It’s as if you are left running without getting tired and there is an orchestral highlight right there where the song gets even better.
The second track, ‘Miracle Aligner’, is nothing like you were used to from the first album. There is an erotic mood and the band makes it clear that they’re going to guide us in new music roads. ‘Dracula Teeth’ is a song that could be the film score in a Hammer Films movie. A montage of scenes of the film Vampyros Lesbos kept coming into my mind. Number four, ‘Everything You’ve Come To Expect’ is a track that couldn’t be missing, dedicated to the beloved Beatles. ‘The Element Of Surprise’ is undoubtedly one of the hits of the new album: funky beats, playful orchestral melodies in response to the guitar, reminding us a little bit of Tame Impala. ‘Bad Habits’ is the surprising first single, awesome song and video.
The album could be ending right here without leaving you stuffed, but the chase through the burgeoning almond trees goes on to catch you and let you sleep ‘Sweet Dreams’ in my arms, as it was a warm spring’s noon. ‘Used To Be My Girl’ is the absolute ‘90s song, an archetypal revival of Britpop. ‘She Does The Woods’ has quite a few garage characteristics and reminds me quite a lot of the band Ipso Facto. With ‘Pattern’ we change eras and we’re being transferred somewhere back in 1971; Sean Connery, originality, style, romance, and the funky beats return; sunbathed bodies, and the yacht sails to golden beaches.
Unfortunately, the official playlist ends here with the ‘The Dream Synopsis’ that makes you miss places you have never visited and ships that you have never waved goodbye to, your beloved one, and, ultimately, it makes you want to lie down with the lights off and let yourself dream.
Putting it all in a nutshell, this album could be placed in the pantheon of albums from which brutal eroticism, extreme sexuality and mysterious enthusiasm flow freely.
Makis Gevros