FLYING MICROTONAL BANANA

1. Rattlesnake - Psychedelic garage rock with a classic Krautrock drum beat. Sets a strong pace for a really good album. Could be seen as a bit repetitive but lots of subtle changes to keep you interested

2. Melting - almost a sort of Bossa Nova style, and the microtonal elements really come to the fore. Somehow it manages to be both fast paced and flat and still sound good.

3. Open Water - really showcasing the drums which keep up the fast pace set by the last two tracks, this time with guitar evoking images of a snake charmer in a bazaar... really ominous mood to this track despite the pace, I really like it!

4. Sleep Drifter - returns to the Krautrock beat and garage style, and another interesting track for the microtonal elements. Vocal style in this track is a little different and the closest thing I can compare it to (brace yourselves prog fans) is Fools Gold by The Stone Roses, in its slightly whispery dis-interested melancholy sound.

5. Billabong Valley - Ambrose Kenny-Smith takes over on vocals for this track, and his style makes this probably the most psychedelic sounding track on the album. This is so Stu can make use of the Zurna, a piercing oboe-like instrument used a lot in central Asia and southeast Europe, and you find yourself transported back to the bazaar as the album slows down a bit

6. Anoxia - Heavy guitar riffs from the start which never let up as the slower section of the album continues.

7. Doom City - Krautrock beat is back but broken up by a far more melancholy sludgy section (hence the track title) and some cleverly distorted harmonica

8. Nuclear Fusion - Starts of with a very catchy bass line. Quite reminiscent of very early Porcupine Tree I think, but with a Zurna.

9. Flying Microtonal Banana - closes with a further showcase of the Zurna which wouldn't be out of place with a troop of belly dancers.

On the whole a very interesting album, and proves that new things can still be done in the wide world of prog and psychedelic. 5 stars from me