Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
In some countries, the possession of a fast camel can lead to untold riches, being lauded in certain circles and the feeling of overwhelming power at the hands of an animal who can outlive a human when lost in the desert. In Glasgow, The Fast Camels are becoming just as lauded, just as hardy and should be just as celebrated as their desert counterparts.
The sense of a return to the psychedelic, the revolution in the way music is delivered and portrayed as one that gives extra thought to the most powerful weapon available to humanity, the command of words and music combined and the power to transform a pop song into something magnificent. All of this comes into play as The Fast Camels release their second album Deadrooms and Butterfly Dreams.
Deadrooms and Butterfly Dreams visualises what can be achieved when one listens to the thought and doesn’t dismiss it as a fantasy not worth exploring. The pleasure that be taken from many flights of fancy, of placing a segment of music in such a way that many would look upon as being odd but somehow captivating and realistic. With Drew Sturgeon, Mark O’ Connor, Allan McGarry, Stephen Mors and Neil Menzies giving the psychedelic a mind blowing expose of intoxicating flavour bursting in the ears, in such a way that older fans of the genre will remember with fondness a certain sweet that when placed on the tongue burst and popped causing a sweet delirium and slight child-like elation of discovering something new.
Tracks that really exemplify the unearthing of something positive and innovative are the stunning Cecilia, Ken’s Sad Vice, Penny Pinching Debt Collector and All Day Breakfast. Within the whole album, the understanding of pushing the boundaries of human expression just that little bit further. The decade of the 60s has never really gone away, it just takes good minds to understand some of the artistic expression that was being productively espoused. For The Fast Camels, the race is not about winning or even untold riches, its expression, pure and simple and showcasing something brings a genuine smile to a face.
Deadrooms and Butterfly Dreams is released on May 5th.
Ian D. Hall