CURIOUS THINGS

Well what can i say other than apologise to the band for not reviewing this cd any earlier,i was having a conversation with a good friend with regards to increasing our reviews on the website when it was mentioned that i hadn`t reviewed any tinyfish albums,I sat their in disbelief for a moment and decided to put pen to paper to correct my embarrassment.

I have had more than a good chance to listen to the mini album of rare recordings over the past few months as it has been on constant rotation on my hi-fi and classic rock magazine seem to agree as the track cinnamon was at no.3 on their heavy rotation charts last month.

So the first track June June Jar starts off with an instant jolt highlighting superb guitar work and Simon Godfrey`s very distinctive,unique and very english vocals.I was unsure about this track when i first listened to it but it is definiltey one that repays you with repeated plays and has a rather excellent chorus.

Robert Ramsay the spoken word guru usually brings us the very odd and curious but it is Simon,Jem and Jim that bring us this snippet"Ack Ack",it is a conversation with an unknown american female,itis diffuclt to describe any more of this track as it needs to be listened to in the context of the album but it is certainly not out of place whatsoever.

She`s All i want is up next and Simon`s vocals yet again are at the forefront of this song,that is until about two minutes in when all sorts of effects are combined into the mix to produce a very poppy and quirky song along with some vocal gymnastics.

The next song "Driving All night" is one of my favourite songs of the album it reminds me of "fly like a bird" from their debut album. A slow burner of a song with simon`s best performance vocally and a gentle acoustic guitar soundtrack before the song takes on a new guise and makes a very powerful statement displaying the versatile songwriting skills with which the band are blessed with.

I love the title of this the next track "Why V.H.F and i had ever written a song i would have loved to call it this.This track apparently has no meaning and it was a cry to the audience to see if they knew what it all meant but we can get an insight from the bands website as simon states" it reminds me off when i listened to radio in the late 70`s and early 80`s and that is something i can also relate to and iam sure many othe people can as well.This 8 minute epic is a song that you will feel very alone with along with its electronic and atmospheric dreamy backing track,that is until the end of the song when everything is ok with the world and you have woken up from your confused sketched memories of the past.

So wrecking ball a very simple accoustic based backing track accompanies the lone vocal track of a lonely boy who has lost the love of his life,the track then explodes into life before returning to its comfortable restful place,simple but very beautiful at the same time.

Cinammon road another superb name for a track that teaches you the secret of magic,there is a kaleidoscope of wonderful colourations on this psychedelic looped masterpiece i dont know where to start or end with this but listen and you will know what i mean.

So Tinyfish with Curious things are probably as about as close as you will get to the new age of progressive rock whilst maintaining a quirky but very accessible soundscape.

An essential purchase for any progressive rock fan.

Available from www.tinyfish.org