EUPHONIOUS TROLLEY EP REVIEW in SHINDIG MAGAZINE...

 

The Dukes of Stratosphear, Naz Nomad and the Nightmares, The Uncle Devil Show... Funny isn't it, that when bands behind a pseudonym  that they often make some of the best music of their career. And you can add to that list Euphonious Trolley, who are actually Leicesters long running psych-poppers The Junipers playing stuff that they have deemed "too poppy" for their proper albums.

The early 70's tinged powerpop on this four track EP (think Macca, 10CC, Beach Boys) sounds more focused, fun and melodic than anything they've recorded to date. 

For Paul McCartney fans, 'Oh Gilbert (I Need Help)' is the track to play first, though opener 'And In  My Dreams'. which sounds so good it could be an outtake from the first Orgone Box album, runs a close second. 

Maybe they should shelve their serious stuff for a while and focus on this - it's what they were clearly born to do. 

Ashley Norris

THE JUNIPERS - AN APOLOGY by ASHLEY NORRIS....

 I was more than little surprised when I got sent the band’s latest EP, the marvelously titled Euphonious Trolley, to review for a magazine and feel head over heels in love with it. While it is heading for pastiche territory – which is why perhaps the band chose to issue it kind of under pseudonym – the quality of the songs is incredible. And In My Dreams, which kicks off with a lovely Revolver style guitar burst sounds so good it could be an outtake from the first Orgone Box album, while Oh Gilbert, I Need Help, (I want to write a song like Jet) is as perkily tuneful as many of the songs it musically (and lyrically) references.

‘Maybe they should shelve their serious stuff for a while and focus on this – it is what they were clearly born to do,’ I wrote.

Except that after writing the review I went out and checked out their second album Paint The Ground and immediately felt like a bit of a chump. Originally issued as a download, though it has just come out on vinyl courtesy of the fine folks at Sugar Bush, Paint The Ground isn’t just The Junipers’ masterpiece, it is one of the best psych albums issued in this country in the last decade.