The new Jovian Tea single would have never come about, had it not been for Incredible Sound Show Stories Vol.1 Technicolour Milkshake, a compilation album featuring obscure songs from the ’60s.
Stu Pope – owner of the internationally revered Sierra Madre, Calif.-based Hypnotic Bridge label – was particularly fond of a couple of numbers on the disc, which were reissued from an acetate containing no song titles or the name of the band responsible for the recordings.
Professor Pope wound up sharing the mysterious tunes with Chris Mercado of the Mad Walls and Glenn Brigman from Triptides, who were equally impressed. There was no question the songs begged to be recycled.
Pope transcribed the lyrics, while Mercado and Brigman supplied the music. Christening the tracks “Strange World” and “Red and Green Talking Machine,” Mercado and Brigman coined themselves Jovian Tea. So here are the amazing results, duly issued on the Hypnotic Bridge imprint.
Brimming with LSD-induced imagery, “Strange World” concerns a person observing a fly on the ceiling, and in turn the fly is observing the person. Stoned and sleepy vocals affecting a British accent, tethered to strummy guitars, ticking drums, the occasional ping of a keyboard and floating melodies constitute the weirdly charming sentiment.
The flipside of “Strange World” is just as amusing and evocative. Another lysergic-fried narrative, “Red and Green Talking Machine” centers upon a pet parrot who is not the brightest bird of its kind, as he is apparently mute. Akin to “Strange World,” the song proposes a playful British psychedelic pop mentality. Ignited by glittering piano chords, “Red and Green Talking Machine” glides lazily to a casual stride, then gains momentum and includes some really cool acid-inspired guitar riffage.
Recalling a mingling between Emotions-era Pretty Things and early Pink Floyd, Jovian Tea’s “Strange World” / “Red and Green Talking Machine” is a masterstroke of paisley-powered whimsy all the way.
- How ‘Hollies Sing Hollies’ Showed New Promise After Graham Nash’s Exit - November 14, 2024
- Barry Melton on Country Joe and the Fish, Woodstock – and That Chant - August 15, 2024
- Bachman-Turner Overdrive Set a New Standard With ‘Not Fragile’ - August 7, 2024
