OLD INTERVIEW with ELIZABETH KLISIEWICZ

 

Leicester, UK group The Junipers might just be the best psych pop group you've never heard. In fact, if like me you're a sucker for exquisitely rendered orchestral pop with a soft psych, folk edge, you're bound to fall hard for their exquisite confections.

Going back to the start, main songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Wiltshire explains he set the group in motion in the usual fashion. Hearing music that inspired him, he remembers, "The Junipers started after I heard the first Emitt Rhodes album. Hearing that, I thought I'd go and get my own recording gear and make my own Emitt Rhodes album. I didn't have the confidence to do it all on myself and I had to get my mate Marc Johnston who lived down the road a few doors away who was into The Beatles and stuff to sing on it. He was the cocky confident one so that worked."

Like many such talented musicians, the band toiled away in relative obscurity, releasing three fine albums. The first dropped in 2008 Cut Your Key and two gorgeous records with singer Robyn Gibson followed. The first with Robyn was 2012's incandescent Paint the Ground, and the best of all, the other is quite possibly 2016's finest record, Red Bouquet Fair. Yet as far as critical acclaim back home goes, Wiltshire opines, "It's been received as well as we'd hoped it would for a small, independent , little-known band". Despite this wry response, eight years ago, the first Junipers album had received raves from from music critics and radio support from the BBC. When asked if they thought they were on the verge of breaking big Wiltshire avers, "When you're in a band and you start getting told you're going to be on the radio, you think, 'That's it, we've done it!' But then we came back down to Earth."

Still Red Bouquet Fair has done relatively well. Explains Gibson, "The albums are quite limited releases, so selling out, for Paint the Ground was pleasingly quick. Red Bouquet Fair has nearly all gone on vinyl too. We think Sugarbush Records are planning another coloured re-press already." And when asked about the long hiatus between their first two LP's, Gibson shrugs, "There's no rush. That's how long it takes us to get an album made. We record songs very gradually, but only in short two or three hour sessions, once or twice a week. I'd be happy to do it everyday, but we do all work and have families and so forth, so we just have to grab the time we can."

Such care taken is obvious when you hear classic tracks such as "Dandelion Man" with it's Love - meets - The Zombies melodic structure. When asked about the influences, the affable gents are all over the map, ranging from The Beach Boys to XTC and The Byrds. No matter the source, it's clear that they've been sipping from some prodigious creative springs, all to treat fans to a beautifully cultivated musical garden. It may take a while, but there will likely be more.

The Junipers - Dandelion Man

RED BOUQUET FAIR ALBUM REVIEW on THE ACTIVE LISTENER BLOG..

 

The Junipers - Red Bouquet Fair

Reviewed by Nathan Ford

I'm now absolutely certain that Sugarbush Records' Markus Holler has managed to somehow implant a chip in me that relays to him exactly which albums I want him to release. His latest batch of releases are absolute perfection. There are four of them in total, but I'm just going to focus on my favourite of them today (more on the others soon).

The Junipers, for those who haven't been paying attention, are one of this decade's most important, unheralded guitar pop bands. Their previous album "Paint the Ground" is one of my favourites of the last few years. I'd previously thought of it as one of those rare, perfect pop records, but it can't quite have been as this new album is even better. While "Paint the Ground" had a lovely pastoral tinge, "Red Bouquet Fair" is much more of a classic pop album, with songs that reach back to the sixties for inspiration without sounding tied to that decade or overly reverential. It's obvious that these guys have fantastic record collections, but in no way do these songs sound like an attempt to replicate the music from those collections.

There are strong hooks on every single one of these songs, and these lads sure do know their way around a harmony; check out the lush vocal layering on "Summer Queen". Absolutely stunning. Elsewhere, they use period embellishments sparingly for maximum effect. Particularly effective is the 12 string guitar solo on "Like a Merry Go Round", while the sitar led "Her Come The Winds" is a marvelous psych-pop gem. And don't get me started on the amazing kaleidoscopic psychedelia of "Burning Pages".

And while classic harmony and psych-pop are the most obvious touchstones here, other influences rear their heads; "When the Bird Has Flown" is a lovely, moody choral harmony piece ala Midlake or the Fleet Foxes, while "Dig Me Up" brings to mind some of the brit-pop sounds of the mid nineties which have aged more gracefully than others.

Apart from the extremely solid songcraft, and those luscious harmonies, the main secret to "Red Bouquet Fair"s success is in the arrangements and production. It's all beautifully layered, with imaginative touches that create a distinctive sound for the band, while preventing any of the songs sounding samey. Or to put it in a simpler fashion, it's obvious that these songs are all the work of the same band, but each is a fresh creation which distinguishes itself from its predecessors.

It's the sort of album which should make you a little bit angry at the injustices of the world. Paradoxically, I'd also imagine that it's pretty much impossible to remain angry while listening to "Red Bouquet Fair".  This should by all rights be a major label release with constant airplay and household name status for the band, and had the Junipers been around to release this 50, 40 or even 20 years ago, that may well have been the case, but we don't currently live in a world where what the Junipers have to offer is in vogue with the masses. For us lucky few though, it's a comforting, magical experience. Absolutely wonderful.

BUY THE ALBUM HERE!

RED BOUQUET FAIR ALBUM REVIEW on POP FOREVER SITE...

 

The Junipers – “Red Bouquet Fair”

“don’t get too deep or your head starts to crack”

I first discovered this wonderful pop/psych band in 2008 from a tip by an Audities member (online group). It was an album called “Cut your Key,” and a very exciting discovery. Switch to June 2016, and I read a review in Big Takeover by Elizabeth Klisiewicz of “Red Bouquet Fair.” She called it “enchanting, delightful, magical, and incandescent.” Without hesitation, I purchased it.  Her praise was enough for me.

Don’t know a lot about them. They are from Leicester England. Joe Wiltshire composes the songs and Robyn Gibson is the lead singer. The music reflects their love for the early British groups like the Beatles and the Zombies. And that music is a lovely mix of pop with psychedelic accents, and beautiful vocal harmonies. The opening title cut is an instrumental with a sitar and banjo in the mix. Key cuts:

• The swirling psych “Burning Pages”
• The chiming guitar highlighting “Like A Merry Go Round” “Chase the shadows as they break on the ground in the fading light”
• The folk guitar and heavenly harmonies on “When the bird has flown”
• Classic Beatles-like piano-driven “The Old Man Mini Suite”
• My favorite track, the layered harmonies on “Summer Queen” “She’d be the summer queen no more than she deserves it’s been her lifelong dream…” So Beautiful!

The album ends with the appropriate “Say Goodbye” and more Beatles inspired vocals.

This is a classic pop album and deserves to be discovered by fans of The Beatles, The Left Bank, or Midlake. I got lucky and found it.

BUY RED BOUQUET FAIR HERE!

JUNIPERS BAND REVIEW ON EVERY RECORD TELLS A STORY BLOG...

 Leicester has had a pretty good run of it of late. It had previously been a source of fun for Londoners being asked for directions by tourists trying to pronounce the famous London square of that name (“Can you tell me the way to Ly-sess-ter square?” we would be asked whilst stifling a smirk). 

Aside from that, it was known for hosting the Walkers Crisps factory and being the birthplace of Thomas Cook holidays and the jug-eared England striker Gary Lineker. However, Britain’s tenth biggest city has had something of a renaissance. Not only is it now rather grandly the final resting place of Richard III, it also hosts football’s Premier League Champions, albeit they have just sacked their manager, which just goes to show some people are never happy. 

Lineker himself is rising ever more to National Treasure status, as he provides as much opposition to the Government as he used to do to Brazil on the football field – more, some would say than the actual opposition party via his Twitter account.  

From a musical perspective, until recently the most famous export from Leicester was the man who broke The Beatles’ record breaking string of number one hits by keeping Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane from the No. 1 spot. 

Sounds good until you find out that person was Englebert Humperdinck. 

But more recently Leicester has produced a slightly edgier and indie-fied version of Englebert in the form of Kasabian, a genuine international headliner and producer of indie-bangers. 

And since 2000, another Leicester band has been quietly producing music, and it is this band that deserves your attention today. 

The band is called The Junipers. 

You may not have heard of them: they didn’t appear on The Brits alongside Ed Sheeran or at The Grammys alongside Bruno Mars, but The Junipers will appeal to fans of the quieter moments of Teenage Fanclub, modern day psychedelic rock bands such as Temples (who hail from nearby Kettering) and Tame Impala, and in particular such psychedelic ’60s pop as Love, The Byrds and The Beatles, and the sunshine pop of Sagittarius and The Beach Boys.

The Junipers’ third album in nine years (they aren’t the most prolific it seems), Red Bouquet Fair, came out late last year, and not only is it one of the best albums I have heard in ages, it’s also being released in a very limited run on coloured vinyl by Tunbridge Wells’ finest record label Sugarbush Records (about whom we’ll find out more another time).

Here are a few things we need to know about The Junipers:

• Band members are Robyn Gibson (vocals), Joe Wiltshire (guitar), Pete Gough (guitar), Ash Selden (bass) and Ben Marshall (drums).
• Their debut 2008 album “Cut Your Key” was recorded both at their own studios in Leicester and at Birmingham’s Magic Garden studios, and was a mild success, gaining radio play, favourable reviews and a support slot with the aforementioned Kasabian. 
• Follow up “Paint The Ground” was released in 2012, and improved upon the debut. 
• 2016 album “Red Bouquet Fair”, their third album, is a further leap forward, containing songs that would improve Pet Sounds. 

Yes, it’s that good. 

It is a masterful work of pop precision, an album utterly accomplished. Like Southend’s Asylums’ “Killer Brain Waves”, Red Bouquet Fair is a great example of a terrific record being created with a DIY ethic outside of the mainstream music industry.

What makes this DIY movement different from previous movements is that bands like The Junipers are releasing the most beautiful home-produced albums that sound like they were created in a luxurious studio. There’s real craft in these mini-symphonies, in these perfect folk-pop moments of sunshine. 

As winter draws to a close, perhaps it’s time to bring a bit of sunshine into your life? An instant injection of vitamin D…

Read the Full Article Here!

INTERVIEW FROM 2017 in LOUDER THAN WAR MAG...

The Junipers are a psychedelic pop band formed in Leicester in 2005, who have been releasing excellent material since their formation with their latest release Red Bouquet Fair gaining rave but hushed reviews across the board.

Similar in terms of the initial reception Nick Drakes albums received, Red Bouquet Fair has been released without much fanfare, but more than deserves the sames accolades as the above referenced folk genius. An album of beauty, with harmonies to take your mind away to a land filled with green summer grass, sunsets on the beach and a ice cool lemonade with a red striped straw, this is the album to listen to whilst you blissfully dreaming of holidays and for taking your cares away. I interview the band who give their low down on their background and who has influenced them:

Can you give us a bit of a low down and your musical backgrounds? 

JOE: my sister got into the Beatles. I used to nick her stuff & listen to it in secret. Saw Anthology on TV & that was it. Hooked on Beatles & ’60s & intrigued by the psychedelic era. Brian Matthew’s Saturday morning radio show sounds of ’60s too. Put me onto all sorts.

ROBYN: I’ve been playing in bands since I was 13.  Heavily influenced by the records given to me by my mum, when I was a pre-schooler.  (Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel bags of ’60s singles).

ASH: Always a lot of music in our house growing up. My Mam was a singer and my Dad played classical/flamenco style guitar so learnt a lot from them. Started off playing clarinet and sax then moved onto guitar and bass.

BEN:  I had 3 older brothers who all played, so it was always there as an influence.

PETE:  I wanted to be in a band from age of six. Best mate Joe begged me to join his psychedelic pop band an early version of The Junipers in 2002.

Why did you decide to pick up an instrument in the first place? 

ROBYN: I wanted to be a Beatle for as long as I can remember.  Watching the Monkees in school holidays during the ’80s as well.  I’ve always wanted to be in that sort of gang!

JOE: I wanted to play drums after seeing Ringo on Beatles anthology on TV. Wasn’t allowed a kit cos it was too loud, so i turned my attention to guitar.

PETE:  Watching Australian kids TV show Pugwall was my inspiration to learn the guitar age 12.

Who were your favourite bands growing up? 

ROBYN: Beatles, Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkel… oh and The Muppets and BBC Sound Effects. (All pre-teen records I hammered to death.)

JOE: Beatles, Hollies, Beach Boys were my main bands. Got into other styles along the way like folk, country & ’70s bands also.

BEN: Buddy Holy, Beatles, Monkees, Kinks, then later britpop/ indie stuff.

ASH: Listened to a lot of Stones/Kinks/Neil Young/The Band growing up.

PETE:  Fave bands as a kid were Status Quo & Beatles.

Were you all friends before you got together as a band? 

Yes. Previous bands together (and all good mates, in advance).

Did you naturally fall into the sound that you have successfully released material with? 

JOE:  We’ve never forced a particular sound. We all have very similar record collections & have grown up listening to pretty much the same stuff as each other.  Which is pretty lucky really. We will all naturally refer to the music we know & love & that happens to be older music. Usually ’60s or ’70s. But we all have our own new bands & music that we like which will come out in our sound now & again.

There’s a distinct summer west coast guitar sound to your releases so far. Why was this chosen as the sound to the releases? 

JOE: It’s down to Brian Wilson & Curt Boettcher mainly.  When I first heard the Sagittarius album Present Tense & the Millennium album I knew that was the sound I personally wanted to try to achieve. We record & rehearse in our own studio in an old factory in Leicester.  So we try to play music that makes us feel like we’re in the sun or in the English countryside & not in the centre of Leicester on a cold Tuesday evening.

Are the releases all band efforts or is there a main singer writer? 

ROBYN : Joe is the creative well here.  The songs are written & then we all get together & see if we can make them sound half decent.

What’s the plan for the band in the future?

JOE:  Just to keep at it for now. As long as we enjoy it we’ll keep doing it. It’s just a social for us & a bit of fun making music. We don’t take ourselves too seriously.

ROBYN: More albums and singles.  We’re recording the follow up to Red Bouquet Fair at the moment. Then, we’ll do another one… I hope!

BUY THE JUNIPERS RED BOUQUET FAIR HERE!

READ FULL INTERVIEW HERE!