In our quest for buried treasure, BIG POTATO are delighted to re-release this groovy, soulful country-psych gem from Reading’s COLEY PARK. The original tapes unearthed and reformed by founder member Nick Holton and co-producer Neil Halstead. The second of three wonderful albums the band recorded between 2002-2006 in a spirit of determined DIY independence and sonic discovery.
“Coley Park manage to strike a telling balance between the pastoral vibes of little England & a warm Americana-come-west coast sound rooted in the 1960s. Detailed by studied lyrics, they stir up a woozy psych sound of a high standard” 4/5 The Independent.
From tunes so fragile they could shatter, to epic but lo-fi woozy, English psych. You can feel the joy of a band discovering how to mash up driving fuzzy wah-wah guitar with banjo, slide, the odd trumpet and Nick Portnell’s warmly vulnerable, defiant vocals.
Opener MILKY MOON surges with surf guitar and a punky snarl with echoes of early Beck. Not least the spooky lines ‘How nice I am when you understand/ Deep wounds I am, across the spine’. EYES ARE ONLY WATER punky attitude driven by Kev Wells unique wah lap-steel sound, followed by the delicious theremin wobble of SCARED OF HEIGHTS. SLEEPING ON ROADS has a woozy, waltzy swing. HIDDEN STARS, sung by banjo/slide/guitarist Kevin Wells, floats like a gorgeous, cracked Nick Drake ballad.
Side two opens with the galloping electro whoosh of SLEEPING APART. Martial drums, country slide guitar, banjo and a fuzzed up wah-wah outro. It’s the album in a nutshell - bold, joyful, out there. BLUE HEARTS is a stand out ballad. A slow burn alt. country swing that sets up YOU WON’T GET OUT ALIVE. Which sounds like the hit Mercury Rev missed. Pump organ, melancholy, and a sweet push in the last verse that turns the song into a genuine anthem. The album closes with ACROSS THE CARPET STARS. Wells’ cracked vocals and Lewis Carrol lyrics describing a comedown tale, perfectly capturing the blown, opened mind and heart on the morning after.
It's Halstead's second collab with the band following his Holton produced solo LP ‘Sleeping On Roads’ ((4AD) titled borrowed from the Park song) and captures their resolute 'outsider indie’ ethos beautifully. The songs are all catchy as hell and heavy. Prayers for escape, closeness, understanding they just exude soul. It has that indefinable, authentic vibe of a real band record. Each member bringing a distinct, weird, unlikely something, that together made the entire album sound new in 2004. It still sounds new.
A fascinating and beguiling record. Working with the best musicians, Spencer has crafted a memory-soaked reflection on his Romford roots. His Coin Collection is worth a bob or two! Ursula's Crow
Hi Henry, great set last night. Managed to work my phone! Great music mate, I feel safe in the knowledge that you and Katie are keeping acoustic music alive. Donnie. donalin
The impossible-to-pin-down new record from Pioneer 11 hopscotches across dance, psych, and modular synth music with glee. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 13, 2022
A work of considerable power and subtlety. Certainly a grower but I was hooked on first listen and it seems to improve on subsequent plays. Well done to everyone involved and good luck for the future, hopefully a long and successful future. simon1956smith