Making Dens - Mystery Jets
At last—an album that is as quintessentially English as Cheesy Wotsits or Tim Henman losing in the quarter finals at Wimbledon. From the artwork, down to the lyrics and the band’s working methods (this album was recorded in the open air, and, if you listen closely, you can hear chickens and church bells), there is a definite air of eccentricity here. Led by 20-year-old Blaine Harrison, who counts among his bandmates his 55-year-old father, Henry, the band hails from that speck in the middle of the Thames known as Eel Pie Island. Track one, “You Can’t Fool Me, Dennis” (now the band’s third single), takes Beano Comics cover star Dennis The Menace as inspiration and sets the tone of the rest of this unpredictable collection. With a surprise around every corner, the band invokes memories of Barrett-era Floyd, the Kinks and Steve Hillage’s Gong. If you’re looking for something a little different, this is highly recommended.
