Day Action Band "Right On Dairyland" (Captain Cape Records 2005)

Gently-fried and even a bit trippy, it's still a warm album

Opening with the sweet but all too short "All Comes Down To This", the listener is immediately catapulted into a gently-fried, folky, every so slightly trippy, but comfortably warm album. 'Trippy' being on account of the subtle, constant use of Hammond drones set back in the mix, plenty of off-set rhythms, and some inventive work with an old, out of tune piano.

It kind of matches the ethos of the album - which was recorded in an old shed in some woods, apparently filled with ramshackle old keyboards, in the light of a neon Dos Equis sign. Lovely stuff.

Many of the tracks are Wilco inspired, especially the Alt.Country-skiffle number "Fixing Everything", a plea for the singer not to be dumped because he really didn't go out, get drunk and pick up women, Honest Guv. Starting off quite innocently, the tune builds into a spinning frenzy of clashing cymbals and whirling Hammonds. Susceptible listeners may find themselves fighting the urge to purchase a one-man-band kit and joyously leap around in it like Dick van Dyke towards the end.

Once ear-bashed into submission, more soothing tracks such as the hypnotic Morse code-esque "65 Miles" and the charming "Untitled" lull the listener into a state of soporific bliss.

"Eyes at the Back of My Head" is a bittersweet track that hits the nail on the head in articulating the feeling in relationships that comes when all trust goes flying out of the window: "The eyes in the back of my head are cryin/ Cause they see what you don't want me to see/ And they know all the places you go..." It also rocks in it's own little way, so if any readers are in a similar predicament and an outlet is needed, this track comes highly recommended.

A couple of tracks are slightly dubious, notably the chirpy "Know What You Know", which gets very jingly during the chorus - at which point one can imagine Pans People jumping out from behind the drum kit waving tambourines around. That, and a guitar solo which sounds like a cheeky homage to the theme tune of Father Ted, all serves to make the song sound a bit on the daft side.

All in all though, if that is the major criticism of the entire album, then the Day Action Band aren't doing too badly. The general feel of this album is that of gentle thoughtfulness. So if amphetamine-addled rockabiliy a-la Hank III is what you're after, then look elsewhere. But if a deliciously calming, interesting and heady collection of quietly experimental tunes is more your cup of tea, then you could do worse than to grab a copy of 'Right On Dairyland', sit back, and relax.

Date review added:  Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Reviewer:  Sian Claire Owen
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Band Website