Pram - Museum Of Imaginary Animals

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Review

If Pram ever decided to name an album 'Music Has The Right To Children', it would be justified. With Pram doing the educating, your kids would definitely grow up decently. Pram's second album is not as loose as their debut. The most talented pupils from the Stereolab class have matured in a tickling jazz style. Both tracks from their recent single, 'The Owl Service' and 'Mermaids' Hotel', are included, although the other tracks are all new and only hit the stores on the 7th August. The sound of Pram used to be too vulnerable and open, but their uncertainty which always sounded intriguing but was also often ineffectual has now been replaced, and while their production remains fragile but immaculate, their compositions are better crafted than before. Keyboards are used in a bebop fashion, defining Pram's sound with an experimental groovyness. At their tightest, Pram carry off magnificently golden wonders like "Mother of Pearl". We're pretty lucky with bands such as Pram who work out the weak points within the release of just two albums. It is a classic, in the sense of having an a-side and a b-side, and has the concept of an lp. It enhances a seventies trend but always with music that Pram members grew up with. 'Museum of Imaginary Animals' is a free-jazz fantasy zoo with Fairport Convention and Joni Mitchell in neighbouring cages. Doors are open, so anybody can get in and out. All in the spirit of the Soft Machine.

Track Listing:-

1 Owl service
2 Bewitched
3 Mother of pearl
4 Narwhal
5 History of ice
6 Mermaid's hotel
7 Million bubbles burst
8 Cat's cradle
9 Picturebox
10 Play of the waves

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