SOFT HEARTED SCIENTISTS – Singles Volume 1 – Uncanny Tales to The Slow Cyclone – review

SOFT HEARTED SCIENTISTS – Singles Volume 1 – Uncanny Tales to The Slow Cyclone – review
self released

So here’s Nathan Hall and his Cardiff based psychedelic collective with what I shall call a best of, despite it not being a best of. It’s just there’s less typing involved in Best Of than there is in Singles Volume 1 and my valet, who normally takes down my dictation is on a weekend away with Federico the gardener. Lovely boys, it’s always nice to see chaps having a manly, chaps holiday, without their lady friends getting in the way.

Anyway, this Best Of. If you’re already a fan of the Soft Hearted Scientists (and you should be), then you will know that you’re heading off into a world of woozy psychedelia, with some interesting tales to tell. But why, Mr H, why is there a Best Of, out there in the internet world, and why should I buy it?

Well, they need the money. Take that, art! Well, actually, they’ve been quite up front about it and have said that “all proceeds will be put towards recording the new studio album with the faintly ludicrous working title of ‘Grapes, Drapes and Ignorant Apes’. Now, I’ve only get their word for it, so if there is a breaking news story in the South Wales Echo about a local psychedelic collective, rampaging through St. Fagans Museum, hopped up on Haribo, then so mote it be.

Back here in music land, you’re getting some bang for your bucks. Twenty (20!) tracks for £6. And what can you get for £6 these days. I was in the Seaglass last night and they wanted £5.70 for a foul IPA. I’d have been better off with this. And it’s not all Haribo funding retreads. Oh, no. There are new and EXCLUSIVE radio edits of ‘Isabella (Keep Riding The Road To The Sea)’, ‘Seeing’ and ‘Seaside Sid And The Giant Squid’. New and exclusive. There’s a first time on CD appearance for both ‘The Comet’s Tail’ and ‘Daisies’. You’re probably palpitating by now so I won’t mention the alternative re-recorded versions of ‘Midnight Mutinies’ and ‘Many a Monster’.

You’ll have noticed the letters CD in the above paragraph because there is a probably already sold out limited edition CDr with a signed lyric sheet for a penny shy of a tenner. I’ve got that a) because I’m great and b} because I hate streaming and c) because I love the Soft Hearted Scientists. In a manly valet/Federico camping trip kind of way.

By the time you read this they should have started recording the next album they need the money for, so give them some. Especially, if you enjoy the aforementioned woozy psychedelia. There are some truly delicious tracks here, which I have very much enjoyed listening to in a different environment. ‘The Trees Don’t Seem To Know That It’s September’, ‘Hermit Crab’ and the also aforementioned ‘Seaside Sid And The Giant Squid’ remain ardent favourites. They could be your ardent favourites as well.

THEY’RE ON THE BANDCAMP