Review by Jason Barnard @ The Strange Brew
The Luck of Eden Hall, stars of Chicago’s nineties neo-psych movement, are two decades after their inception in great form weaving a sixties psych feel with modern rock influences. Their new EP contains two sixties interpretations alongside a nice pair of their own gems that are a welcome addition to their respected canon.
It’s challenging to place two self penned nuggets alongside a couple of genre defining classics but they more than hold their own. Kicking off with what feels like a musical call to arms “Chrysalide” is a great band performance, psych pop of the highest order. It must be excellent live! “The Ottoman Girl” goes back and forth from a slow psych start and into a rocking core beautifully.
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“She Comes In Colors”, Arthur Lee’s masterpiece from Da Capo, is always going to be an ambitious choice and many bands would not be up for the challenge. The Luck of Eden Hall does not does radically revise Lee’s classic but it’s successfully sparkier and punchier – ultimately like hearing from an old friend who’s sounding better than ever.
Over in the US, The Association’s “Never My Love” is one the most popular tracks in music history. I have always found it a little too smooth and favoured The Casuals more baroque cover from these shores. The Luck Of Eden Hall go for an eastern flavour, rather like George Harrison guesting on sitar to psych the track up whilst retaining the timeless melody. Magical.
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Another great release from the Fruits de Mer label and a perfect match up with The Luck of Eden Hall. The band boast Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins as a fan and the Strange Brew can definitely see why.
