Petals - Butterfly Mountain

  by Andrew Carver

published: 3 / 9 / 2003

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A few listens to The Petals’ 'Butterfly Mountain' and a few other “P” words will leap to mind: Patchouli and paisly, for starters. The music of '“Butterfly Mountain' leans toward a Byrdsy country sound (this, along with main songwriter Cary Wolf’s Michael Stipeish tenor, makes one think of REM). The psychedelic influence comes primarily from the lyrics, which, depending on one’s point of view, are either oblique or daft, and the occasional flashes of electric sitar. While the music goes down a treat, and will be particularly attractive to fans of groups like Beechwood Sparks and Asteroid No. 4, some may find the lyrics a trifle harder to swallow. “I can see by your blue eyes you’re a brown cow.” Wolf sings in '“Brown Cow', and later: “ I can see by your handle you’re a saucepan, you fry up all my old spam." Clouds are mewanwhile described as a “mobius moping mime” in 'Autumn Latch'. On the other hand, you can’t accuse the band of hoeing anyone else’s row. Is their another band out there with its own perky ode to a seed separator? (“It’ll make a snazzy planter where the flowers pop out” goes one line. Quite.) By comparison, 'Pallid Mask', sung by Laurie Kern with lyrics by one Steve Lines steps away from the usual Petals sound. With its Spanish guitar and gothic lyrics, it sounds much like the Green Pajamas’ latest efforts, or something by GP offshoot Goblin Market, though Kern’s vocals are strong, rather than ethereal. Recommended for folk rock fans. Definitely not recommended for anyone who hates hippies.

Track Listing:-

1 Brown Cow
2 Seed Separator
3 Daydream Stash
4 Pallid Mask
5 A Place In The Shade
6 Autumn Latch
7 Living Room
8 Sarsaparilla
9 Rex, Sandra And Jasper
10 Stone Circle Dancers
11 Butterfly Mountain
12 Neutron Star

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