Crispian Mills - Healing Hands

by Fiona Hutchings

published: 15 / 12 / 2010

Label: Ho Hum Records
Format: 7"

Perfect limited edition vinyl only single consisting of two tracks from long unreleased solo album by Kula Shaker front man, Crispian Mills

Review

If Blur and Oasis et al were the Britpop equivalent of the swinging 60's Stones and Beatles, Kula Shaker were the Eastern mystics that came along and influenced them later. And it was all going so well. They were one of "the" bands of 1996 and then lead singer Crispian Mills made some rather naive comments about Hitler and swastikas and was inevitably branded a Nazi. That rather took the shine of it all and, despite Kula Shaker continuing to perform in some grouping or another, they have never quite recaptured the dizzy heights of 'Hey Dude' et al. More than 10 years ago Mills decided he wanted a "new challenge and a break" from his band mates. Recruiting David Brinkworth (among others) and his house boat studio he did record an album, but it was never released. Now Ho Hum Records have got their hands on two tracks and released them as part of their series of limited edition 7" singles. Just 500 copies have been pressed. 'Healing Hands' is a beautiful, laidback summer sweet melody. There is not a sitar nor Sanskrit refrain in sight. Instead it seems to tour the greatest of the 60's from the Byrds to the Doors, the Monkees to the Mamas and Papas. It is not exactly original but is flawless in the homage it pays to the artistry of yesteryear. I feel lucky to own a rare record but hope it somehow finds its way into the mainstream. And what of B side 'Be Merciful'? Well it is a very spare, short and low key offering that is much more invocative of 'Tattva' and it feels more like the idea of a song than a completed article. All in all worth looking out for.