Raised By Animals - 'As Nature Intended' (Barnyard Records) Released 22/01/06

 

Asthma attacks and perspiring aside, there is no need to beware Raised By Animals as their debut album, ‘As Nature Intended’, is full of likeable tunes that are melodic and downright crackers.

 

‘Stars and Guitars’ opens the album with frontman Paul Mainon’s sweet voice quickly turning fierce with occasional falsetto flourishes. This is upbeat and bassy as a song about the longings of wannabe rock stars. ‘Talking Circles’ is mid-tempo and funky with indie-ish guitars and harmonised vocals. Track 3, ‘Rabbit Soup’ is a mad, psychedelic tale about gallivanting around the countryside. ‘You Said…’ plays host to some Procol Harem style organs as an emotive and reflective ballad.

 

A totally unexpected Oscar Wilde quote creeps in to ‘Down Here Looking Up’ (if you can’t tell which one from the title, then shame on you). This track has a really strange, illogical arrangement and seems a bit all over the place but somehow, it works. ‘Me and My Flashlight’ opens with a line spoken by Jackie Gleason in Smokey and The Bandit, saying ”What we are dealing with here is a complete lack of respect for the law”. Quite fitting as this quirky, Starsky and Hutch guitar driven track is about bank robbers and the spoken sample was first featured on The Prodigy’s ‘Their Law’ in 1994. Thieving gits!

 

‘Firefly’ is a slow, acoustic number that seems to have no motivation. ‘Canned Air’ is the best track on here. It is instantly happy and lively with plunky chords, impressive vocals and a catchy chorus. ‘Metrospect’ is a satisfying tune about spending idle days in Paris. It features some piano’s that are more suited to Uncle Albert tickling the ivories down the Nags Head rather than a sophisticated Montmartre café, but it is likeable all the same. ‘Wellington Street Crash’ diverts from Paris to Barnsley on a Saturday night, with a flute! This doesn’t paint a very pretty picture of Barnsley and doesn’t really possess the charm or wit of similar tale ‘I Predict A Riot’, courtesy of their former touring pals. A few “I tell thee”s will get you far in this game. And I’m beginning to think that West Yorkshire isn’t the best place to frequent on a weekend.

 

As likeable as it is, this is a pedestrian album that never really gets going. It seems to lack direction and determination but the potential is there. There are some bonkers themes going on which is appealing and their burgeoning live reputation should back them up. Maybe they should think about toning down those schizophrenic influences.