Up until last August I’d never heard of The Pocket Gods, the cult British indie pop band from St Albans founded in the late nineties by lead songwriter Mark Christopher Lee (sometimes known as M.C. Lee). But having reviewed “The Very Best Of The Pocket Gods” last year I was keen to reacquaint myself with this eclectic and maverick outfit.
The album opens with `Indie Pop verses The World` and at just under two minutes in length it`s a cracking slice of indie pop punk veering slightly towards the catchy tunes that the Ramones were famous for. I guarantee after a couple of plays you`ll be singing “I’ve got indie pop, it`s in my soul” for the rest of the day. There were some delightful what I took to be xylophone chimes throughout. We have a sort of Fallesque number with ` I Can`t Face Driving to Stevenage` a song about the singer’s battle with mental health issues which have been exacerbated by the continuing lockdown. The town has been called grey, boring, uneducated, and unwelcoming so maybe not a place to head to if you`re out of sorts with life.
`Something Wrong with the Phalange` is i`m led to believe about digitally overdosing on online boxsets. I couldn`t work out the title as a phalange is either a group of people or things of a similar type forming a compact body or a bone of the finger or toe. Nevertheless, there was much to be enjoyed and it had me in mind of the wit, wisdom and charm associated with Ray Davies of the Kinks. The keyboard tinges, harmonious La La La`s and the dead pan delivery were a joy to behold. We have not quite a satire but a view on the gutter press with `Front Page Tabloid Hell` which races along with some enchanting strings leading the way. it ends with a classic throwaway line of “something happened to me …in the super marche” Lovely stuff.
`Song For Derek` starts with a church organ and a scream before galloping off on an Inspiral Carpets on speed vibe relating a tale that mentions drowning in holy water and asking the holy father to keep them safe so some sort of catholic guilt trip quite possibly. There`s what sounded almost like a harpsicord solo in the last minute of the finale of this opus. What I’d refer to as a driving song is shared with `Nothing To See Actually we`re inside a Chinese Dragon` a number that had a Madchester baggy texture about it and as to the lyrics…. who knows?
`Want to Fall in Love with Me? ` is a dreamy love song with a rhythmic drum beat, organ / keys and an almost detached vocal delivery. The album concludes with `500 days sober` a submission written about Lee giving up alcohol for the sake of his marriage and mental health. Although as he sings “it’s a bad, bad time to be sober” it has a trippy out there, rocky ambiance and the last minute is given over to a rising and falling clarinet solo.
Mark Christopher Lee continues to make some of the finest eclectic music around, again there were a variety of genres on offer with lyrics that sometimes were a little difficult to define but that to me is the beauty of this artists style. He also has his own award winning rockumentary `Weird The Life And Times Of A Pocket God`, which has been described as “Spinal Tap meets One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.” Check it out.
“I Can`t Face Driving to Stevenage” is another entertaining and enjoyable classic from this unique national treasure.
Rating 9 /10
