Originally released on CD in 1998, Bronco Bullfrog's debut album fully deserves a Reissue. A vinyl version was released a little later, but contained only 10 of the 17 tracks, so this is the album's first LP release as it was intended to be heard. This and The Orgone Box debut album remain two of my favourite 90s Psych Pop releases.
The trio of Andy Morten, Mike Poulson and Louis Wiggett took their name from the cult 1970 kids on the street film of the same name. The album does resemble a read through the pages of Shindig Magazine, coincidently due to Andy Morten's involvement in both.
Morten doubles up on Drums (excellently as it happens) and this makes the sound far wider than you would imagine for a trio. The feel is very 60s, somewhere between UK Beat and Psych Pop, but the full scope covers Bubblegum, Toytown, Pop Rock and much much more. There are plenty of mods to the likes Of The Who, The Kinks and The Move and to Britpop and beyond to a lot of what comes out of Medway and the West Coast now.
Lyrically, there is a lot of Village Green contained within as the song titles might indicate, this is most prevalent on the splendid Poor Mrs Witherspoon, a song that changes direction with ease and is built around a much rockier, almost Blues like, riff.
Be My Friend is great Country, whilst Lazy Green Afternoon is splendid Psych Pop. Home To You is Sunshine West Coast Pop and Together starts off like second album The Move before turning into Raspberries whilst maintaining that Move Riff. Welfare Snapshot is great 70s Pop Rock and Paper Mask is very very Badfinger and what a great Guitar solo!
There are times that the album sounds like a 60s Film Soundtrack and the Psych is never over done when it would be easy to get weird. Songs crash in and then change to something far more laid back and there are short one minute interludes that break things up really nicely rather than irritate. Three more Bronco Bullfrog albums followed this and you should collect 'em all.
The album is also available as a download. You can listen to and buy the album here.
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