WHO ARE THEY? An up-and-coming Liverpool quartet who reportedly reside in a raucous party house down the street from where one of The Beatles grew up — which is precisely everything these psychedelic collagists have in common with the Fab Four.
WHAT IS THIS? Their superb, sui generis debut disc of adventurous anything-goes songcraft that fearlessly and flawless flits between a myriad of sounds and styles — pop, rock, soul, funk, hip-hop and pretty much anything else that strikes their freaky fancies.
WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE? Four talented but unruly artists throwing everything and the kitchen sink into the musical mix — and somehow making it all work.
WHAT WOULD BE A BETTER TITLE FOR THIS ALBUM? Lifelines? We Don’t Need No Stinking Lifelines!
HOW SHOULD I LISTEN TO IT? These songs feel more like they’re made to be experienced rather than focused on — so it’s probably best to alter your consciousness by whatever means (and to whatever degree) you prefer, crank it up and cut loose.
WHAT 10 WORDS DESCRIBE IT? Groovy, slinky, colourful, unconventional, glitchy, exuberant, unstructured, trippy, slapdash, enticing.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SONGS? The wobbly hip-hop grooves and fever-dream cough-syrup wooziness of opener Dr. Marvelo and His Best Friend Corkie is a fine launching pad for the rest of this half-hour sonic and psychic expedition.
WHAT WILL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY? ‘Pass the cough syrup.’
HOW OFTEN WILL I LISTEN TO THIS? The shape-shifting variety, multi-layered eccentricity and joyful enthusiasm make for an experience that is strangely compelling, remarkably rewarding and surprisingly addictive.
IF THIS ALBUM WERE A COCKTAIL, WHAT KIND OF COCKTAIL WOULD IT BE? Something based around Robitussin, psychedelics and lager.
SHOULD I BUY, STREAM OR STEAL? You don’t have to be a millionaire to buy this.
