After the untimely demise of the vastly underrated Ultrasound at the turn of the century, it's good to see the creative juices of guitarist Richard Green are back in overflow mode once again.
Imagine the urban decayed wisdom of Suede combined with the musical dexterity and inventiveness of early Pink Floyd and you're heading along the right tracks. Take a trip through Robert Fripp's garden (mind the Toyah) whilst revisiting Enid Blyton's story books and you'd probably end up somewhere in the mindset of The Somatics.
'Elemental' sounds like one of those great lost album tracks of the early seventies genre known disaffectionally as progressive rock, having been given an almighty Dr Marten size 10 kicking up its lazy backside. Layer upon layer of glacial guitar slides effortlessly from one verse to another, while Richard and Stephanie Green share vocal duties in a pristine, Olde Englishe manner befitting something emanating from a royal fanfare.
B-sides 'Cool Wet Grass' and 'You Promised Me' both take different shapes, with the former sprinkling guitar pyrotechnics a-plenty over the most indolent of moorside retreats while the latter's elegant harmonies evoke memories of The Telescopes in their prime.
A truly remarkable record, then, that holds no boundaries yet crosses every one imaginable.
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8Dom Gourlay's Score