I mean, this LP, with its cover of a naked lady riding a merry go round elephant (or pig, it’s a bit difficult to discern); how could this release be anything less than brilliant?
Grails – Doomsdayer’s Holiday
A fantastic album this; from the artwork onwards. I mean, this LP, with its cover of a naked lady riding a merry go round elephant (or pig, it’s a bit difficult to discern); how could this release be anything less than brilliant? The two-girl image on the back is incredibly reminiscent of Virgin’s early logo, and lends a subtle hint to what goes on in the music.
Despite the title and the black and white colours, it ain’t thrash or doom or anything like a Southern Lord release, say. On the contrary, it’s spacious, witty, irreverent and bloody tuneful. There are macabre overtones (The title track and opener promised much carnage with the sound of thundering hooves and screaming maidens) but the expected slaughter failed to materialise. What we get is baroque, grandiose prog, very much in the style of Ghost. Reincarnation Blues, with its World Music trappings has a swagger that certainly borrows something from Led Zep III. Predestination Blues treads Gong territory with its cod-eastern build up and Daevid Allen style guitar runs.
Elsewhere there’s a Get Carter feel to The Natural Man and a maudlin Eno-era Roxy vibe to Immediate Mate. Barry Adamson’s swaggering cod-sixties soundtracks are referenced here too, surely.
Highlight is the staggering last track, Acid Rain which is an eight minute bliss-out of considerable proportions.
This album deserves your attention, so get it.
Words: Richard Foster