Mondays are Astronaut2005 Drummer cover v. Original Performance.
Tuesdays are duets.
Wednesdays are Reader zZounds Favorites.
Thursdays are Fashion Sense.
Fridays are Reader Top Pick.
Saturdays and Sundays are devoted to zZounds affiliate promotions.
Let's focus on today - Reader Top Pick Friday...with one exception - the top pick is a review of the Scottish band, The Fast Camels.
Question - Who are The Fast Camels?
Answer - The Fast Camels are a Glasgow, Scotland-based band heavily influenced by 1960's U.S. and UK Psychedelic Rock, Freakbeat, and Powerpop.
Side question - How are these genres defined?
Answer -
- Psychedelic Rock is inspired by psychedelic culture and the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs.
- Freakbeat is a sub genre of rock and roll with origins in UK rock, beat, rock and roll, psychedelia, and freak scene. The freak scene genre has an interesting and extensive background, so read further on Wikipedia.
- Powerpop is a form of pop rock reflected early on by The Who, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Byrds. A full background can be found on Wikipedia.
Let's go back to The Fast Camels.
The band made their debut in 2007 with the album, The Magic Optician. They performed locally before landing gigs throughout the UK. The album quickly landed airplay in the U.S. and Canada.
The current members include -
Drew Sturgeon - Vocals, Guitar
Mark O'Conner - Guitar, Vocals
Andy Rennie - Bass, Vocals
Joe Smith - Drums, Vocals
Craig Jenkins - Percussion
Fast forward to the present and my reason for review - the band's fourth studio album - Full of Strange is due for release on December 2, 2019.
Let's stay with Full of Strange for review.
Track Listing
1. Blissful Serenity
2. Caught In A Dream
3. Full of Strange
4. Storyteller
5. Misty
6. The Wedding
7. Don't Know Where To Begin
8. Sordid Dreams
9. Family Tree
10. The Curious Tale Of Peeping John Foley
11. Honeymoon
12. Statue On The Hill
My initial impression of The Fast Camels is 1960's British invasion sound with a blend of modern day edgy and psychedelic instrumental.
Although some musicians leave song meaning up to listeners, most suggest meaning behind lyrics. This is my sense behind the Full of Strange album. For example, "Blissful Serenity," "Storyteller," and "The Wedding" tell stories of one-off romance or romance not meant to be.
"Don't Know Where To Begin" is a defining song in the Psychedelic Rock genre with instrumental offering a feel of drug trip. The vocals in "Family Tree" offer the same sense.
"The Curious Tale of Peeping John Foley" is rather deceptive - while the song maintains a calm pace, I find the lyrics to be rather dark.
"Honeymoon" is by far the most intense in instrumental and perhaps in response to "The Wedding."
The songs described above stand out the most.
The genres that The Fast Camels fit into are, honestly, unfamiliar to me. All three relate directly to 1960's West Coast America and England. I am one generation removed and am set with the genres I have grown up with.
With that said, The Fast Camels as a band and the Full of Strange album set for release on December 2nd should in no way be dismissed.
I take occasional detours on Set List to promote my Avon business and fashion blogs. However, I maintain always that Set List is fundamentally about music - all genres and in all formats. I maintain always that Set List taps into one common global interest - music.
I may not be familiar with Freakbeat and Powerpop, but perhaps someone else in the United States or in another country is and enjoys the unique sound.
Global unification - this is the power of music.
In conclusion, I am giving The Fast Camels a positive review and recommendation.
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