4 out of 5

Label: Oaken Palace Records

Produced by: ?

Pretty perfect VO clatter, with a surprisingly “linear” and restrained A-side that’s nonetheless immediately identifiable, and a B-side that almost indulgently runs through various noise and ambient modes the band has hit, ebbing and then building to a fantastic conclusion.

Squeeze The Lids and Through Coming Window are the side-long names of these compositions. Our seasoned crew of Adam Davenport, John Godbert, Julian Bradley, Michael Flower, and Neil Campbell go minimalist with Squeeze, focusing on Christmas percussion and high-toned wind- / reed-instruments that flutter into blended and distant guitar and effects. What might generally be a very open-ended, drone-like bit of psych feels miraculously focused and grounded – very hand-held, and never leaving the listener without some identifiable sounds or dropping us into chaos. Only the fade-out is a kind of a bummer – might this’ve had some more stirring conclusion if not limited by an LP side?

Through Coming Window is a logical response to this relative restraint, kicking off in full-blown noise; a “classic” VO sound of kitchen-sink clatter. As mentioned, though, this is just phase 1: about a third of the way through, the electronics / guitar noise drops for some flutey instruments, background clinking, and occasional faded vocals – a bit more hostile take on the pastoral vibes of the A-side, with feedback peeking in and out. This drops to straight ambience for a short patch, then the guitars take over, then the noise. It’s a massive conclusion. The stitching going from the first phase to the remainder feels a bit sudden, but once you’re there, you don’t mind at all.