I was always going to fall in love with Songs of lies and deceit. It is adorned with a Phil Spector-ish wall of sound production, some driving garage rock, harmonies, Hammond organ and sounding like 1966/7. If I closed my eyes …

It’s The Pretty Things … no … that’s some Pink Floyd … perhaps Tomorrow? NO! This is The Lucid Dream. They are wearing their influences (and mine) proudly on their sleeves but when you do it this good, why wouldn’t you?

Songs of Lies and Deceit is more than a trawl through the Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968 Box Set. These Carlisle based hipsters have jagged jangling guitars, some wonderful bass lines, hook lines that ensnare themselves in the brain and that, oh so important, tambourine.

The opener, ‘How’s your low when you’re low alone?’, a six minute dive into driving guitars and distorted vocals. It sets a high standard which to all intents and purposes doesn’t drop. By the time you reach the halfway point, by that mark called ‘Heading for the Waves’ that displays some lovely guitar phrasing, you know this is a good thing, baby. There is that that wobbly (Hammond?) organ and more frenzied guitars freaking out.

Don’t expect Songs of Lies and Deceit to fizzle out. ‘The Twilight End’ drones beautifully into ‘Sweet Hold on Me’, a no-nonsense nine minute vintage trip.

Nine tracks. Consistent in that each tune is unpredictable full of inventive style while not straying from guitar driven ’60s feel. Bet it’s a fun band to be in!

Sold! – to the man in the Paisley shirt.

PS: I have not used the word “Psychedelic”.

Words: Keith How

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