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When you see mushrooms on the front cover of a single you know that you're in trouble. And as your brain registers that fact, you see the words 'A mind blending consomme' printed at the bottom of the cover. I'm all for experimental but not mental. I am armed with a prior knowledge though. This Liverpool quartet are signed to my favouite label 'Domino' and it is this factor that ensures I listen to everything on offer.
I am both pleasantly surprised and not surprised. The music cannot be faulted. Is it pop? Is it acoustic? Is it swing or acid jazz? I think it's all of them. The backing on 'Hijack' is addictive and it would actually be a better track if it was an instrumental. The vocals spoil it slightly. The music is so much bigger than the lyrics on offer.
And this is where my problem lies. It's the vocals. It sounds like the words are being muffled at times. Then I check out the band's website and my question is answered. Their gimmick is to wear surgical scrubs including the masks. They're called 'Clinic'. Get it? I am convinced that the singer recorded these songs with the mask on. It would explain why his voice sounds so weird sometimes.
The single 'The Witch' is about a modern day witch hunt and is very Stones influenced. Think 'Sympathy for the devil'. Remember those never ending whoo hoos? Well this song is laced with them. Once again the music is brilliant but those vocals are niggling at me. It's the vocal equivalent of marmite. You'll either love them or hate them. At present i'm hovering somewhere in between.
I think that they should ditch the surgeon's gimmick and look at the vocal situation again. It's the only way to scrub up their act.
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