Psychedelic folk, as the press release says, is a term that doesn’t inspire confidence, but this album is a treat.

Scuzzy opener ‘Hunchback’ sets the bar high, with distorted vocals and guitar licks reminiscent of early (ie, good) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. ‘Overnite Religion’ continues in the same vein, shuffly folk guitar, tambourine and all. ‘Monkey’ is the closest that the album has to a ballad, if you like that sort of thing. A paean to a close friend (possibly simian), it’s the only cover on the album but Vile makes it his own.

The album’s highlight, however, is ‘Freak Train’, an apt description, as it powers along, building momentum but not disappointing (as epics often do) with an average pay-off. It lasts for over seven minutes and doesn’t outstay it’s welcome, the sound of the worst hangover you’ve ever had, but sober it’s a beautiful cacophony of noise.

In the ‘Genre’ section, my iTunes listed this album as ‘unclassifiable’. Quite right. Never was an artist more misrepresented by his own name.

Richard Bowes