PURPLE OVERDOSE

What a pleasant surprise this was. Given the band's name and listed under Psychedelic I was thinking this might be in the vein of fellow Greeks P.L.J. BAND, a heavy duty Psyche album, but no. This is more like another Greek band I like WILL-O-THE-WISP almost a folky Psychedelic sound like the mid to late sixties. And this is very good! The band's leader referenced the first albums by the ELECTRIC PRUNES and 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS as being the major influences to getting him into making this type of music. The band was formed in 1987 and released five studio albums from 1988 to 1999. This is the middle one released in 1994. A five piece with the usual "rock"instruments plus keyboards, flute and sax.

I like all their album art, very psychedelic paintings that would make cool posters. "Fell From The Stars" opens with spacey sounds that are replaced quickly by a catchy beat and a full sound as flute and vocals join in. It turns kind of jazzy before 1 1/2 minutes with that bass as it settles down and the flute leads as the vocals step aside for the rest of the song. Guitar and a heavier sound after 4 minutes. "The Unreal Life Of Emery Wax" has samples of a marching band, crowd noise and bagpipes before flute and strummed guitar take over. Vocals too and this reminds me of WILL-O-THE-WISP. The chorus is beautiful, kind of dreamy. Distorted guitar just before 2 minutes with flute leads the way. Organ leads briefly before 3 minutes as the guitar returns. Again I really like the chorus.

"Blank Empty Space" is a little heavier as vocals join in. I like the wah wah guitar that comes and goes. Another catchy well written tune. A psychedelic calm 2 1/2 minutes in but it's brief as that heavy beat and sound returns. A nice guitar solo after 3 minutes before another calm with vocals arrives briefly before 5 minutes. "My Little Elf" has some fun lyrics. A lighter tune with vocals, flute and strummed guitar leading. Lines like "She dances to the sound of the harpsichord" make me smile. It does turn heavy late. Very cool.

"Lord It's Me" is an emotional song where his vocals almost cry the chorus "Lord! As I'm climbing to the sky, please let my son be by my side." Strummed guitar and vocals lead but it does build as bass and keys arrive before 2 minutes. A full sound with flute 3 minutes in. What a song! "Coming Near To My Brain" opens with brief samples as a heavy distorted sound takes over as flute, vocals and drums join in. I like the drumming and flute here. Background synths provide atmosphere as the guitar grinds away.

"Rainbows" opens in a WILL-O-THE-WISP like manner. Very laid back and dreamy with vocals. It kicks in just after a minute and the tempo picks up. Contrasts continue. I really like the mellow sections. "Chase The Colours" is the 8 minute closer. Solo guitar to start as flute and drums join in then vocals. A catchy with some energy. It settles back around 2 1/2 minutes with flute, drums and vocal melodies. Not for long though and this happens again before 4 1/2 minutes but this time it stays this way until after 6 minutes when it explodes with guitar out front to the end. Nice.