MYSTERY JUICE - "Seed"

'Old Man' is an astonishing start to an astonishing album with perceptive lyrics like 'I should jump now just because I can', a candid but sensitive way of looking at old age in a laid back bluesy style combined with the attitude of a Radiohead perhaps. 'Plastic', a languorous piss take of consumerism with its acerbic lyric about the 'supermarket of style' would have been tailor made for the late great Ian Dury. The violin is a welcome if unexpected touch. 'The Butcher' mixes some jazzy organ stabs and guitar phrases with solid drumming and bass finished off by some impassioned 'Edinburgh soul' vocals from Tim Matthew. 'Personal Thing' is based on a 'rap' vocal but the music is much too diverse for rap and the guitarist Donald MacDougall adds 'funk' to his repertoire of styles while Matthew adds another cheeky lyric. 'Going Radge on Holiday' is of course another tongue in cheek song with a hint of James Brown about it in the guitar work. 'Open My Mouth and Do Nothing' is one of the strongest musical statements on the CD and first came to my attention on 'Alchemical Radio'. The feel is similar to 'Old Man' and the 'So many things for me to worry about, enough to keep me awake at night' lyric will strike a chord with many of us, some 'made in Mull and filtered through a particularly muddy Mississippi backwater' guitar (The quote's from 'Scotland on Sunday' who made 'Seed' their 'Pop? Album of the Week') leading to the inevitable conclusion- 'I tell myself it's not my fault, it's not my responsibility'. I'm told some rap/ hip-hop/ beats stuff comes up over the next few tracks and this concoction of contemporary styles alternates with heavy rock and a James Brown groove on 'Tricky Situations'. 'Pick It Up' features a riotous guitar/ violin interchange while 'Black Rubber Bag' comes at you with all the ferocity of classic punk rock. The brief instrumental conclusion 'No.12' is almost ambient in comparison to what has gone before.
Thanks to Tim and Terri~B for pointing me in the direction of an incredible Scottish band named after a little known brand of beer. Eclectic is a term often used to describe their approach to music but this doesn't even tell half the story- 'Seed' is an accomplishment of mind blowing proportions and Mystery Juice carry off the rare trick of presenting the darker side of life in a palatable and thought provoking way.
Contact:
(Vertical Records VRTPR004)

(Phil Jackson)

PAT ORCHARD - Outside

A new name to me, but this is Pat Orchards fifth studio release, and it's absolutely stunning. As a fully paid up member of the Nick Harper fanclub it heartens me to find someone else who can touch me in those untouchable places.

It's all very delicate, with the arrangements rooted in a jazzy structure, with his almost fey vocals acting as an additional instrument, part of the overall song, rather than as a distraction from the mood. Restraint is the order of the day, singing songs of human emotion, in a manner we can all understand.

There are moments when you could be listening to a lost Colin Blunstone classic, all very English and proper, but emotional nonetheless. So when he shouts for attention, you know it's time to prick up your ears. Each song seems to have been honed to a point where everything fits together, with no slack, even on the nine minute plus "Earthbound".

If you are looking for something melancholy, yet touching, you won't hear much better than this. An absolute classic from one of the finest singer songwriters I've heard in years.

PIGFISH - All Snowy On the Pond (Acrude Records)

Another been a long time band. Seems like many, many moons since we reviewed their "Reverend James" mini LP ceedee thing. In fact, I'm sure it was released (and reviewed) twice. Either that or the acid flashbacks are getting worse. Either way, it was like blast of fresh air, getting all pop punky all over again.

Taking all the best bits of the USA pop/punk hybrids, mixing in a healthy dose of UK aggression ala Wildhearts, nodding reverently at the past masters (Ruts, Stiff Little Fingers), and ending up with a rather splendid melange. They seem to have ambled off in a more crusty direction ("Drinking With Danny") over the last couple of years, but in a Bleeding Hearts / New Model Army, rather than losing the way to the soap shop.

When they get it just right it's Top Of The Pops time (assuming they were 12 years old American prettyboys), and the likes of The Offspring would kill for hooks like those on "She's Dead". In fact, it's all so splendid I'll even forgive them for their 1999 single "Glass of Champagne" (yes that one!).