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Review: 'PENFOLD, EDWARD'
'Denny Isle Drive'   

-  Label: 'Stolen Body'
-  Genre: 'Rock' -  Release Date: '24 November 2017'-  Catalogue No: 'SBR 038'

Our Rating:
Edward Penfold's debut album "Caulkhead" was one of the more pleasant musical surprises of last year and garnered much deserved praise in critical quarters, which puts us in "difficult second" territory.

Those who favour "if it ain't broke don't fix" methodologies will be pleased to hear more of the same on the second album. EP certainly has a way with words. "Conker" sums up the lost generation in 1.21 seconds. "Spring Parade" takes Neil Young as a starting point and then heads off in its own direction. "Sleep so I can wake, stand so I can sit. Make my bed, so I can lay in it".

It dovetails nicely with "Betsy's Linen" whereupon the protagonist slurs their drinks with their words whilst their stomach is a flock of birds. "Northern Himisphere" plants us firmly in suburbia and seems to be gently (always gently) asking us to question whether or not this is really paradise? "Grasshopper" is the anchor that grounds the album, with six minutes of twists and turns. Like Ride on horse tranquilizers.

A track like this does show progression from "Caulkhead" in terms of scale and production. Strings seem to have come to prominence on the second half of the album and tracks such as "Shallow Valley" and "Bullfrog" wear those same gentle Beatles, Syd Barrett psychedelic influences and wear them well at that.

The final track is the six minute, piano led "Garden Fresh". "Hear the sounds you make, it's easy on the ears. Lay down and sleep for years". It might not be quite as delightful as the first album but you would be hard pushed to find a reason why it isn't.
  author: Leo Newbiggin

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PENFOLD, EDWARD - Denny Isle Drive