This is the 2cd deluxe re-issue of Unholy Soul the second album by The Orchids, that was originally released on Sarah Records in 1991. The Glasgow based Indie band were John Scally, Chris Quinn, James Hackett, Matthew Drummond, DJ McKinven and James Moody with additional vocals from Pauline Hynds and guests Fif Cook, Dave Paterson, Martin Coll and Dario Sinforiani, it was produced by Ian Carmichael. The bonus disc is the Penetration and Something For The Longing Ep's.
The album gently opens with Me & The Black & White Dream that has some quite Rain Parade style psychedelic guitars, for ending up in a world that is back in Black & White, like the 1970's have returned, with the acid you took making everything monochrome rather than enhancing all the colours.
Women Priests & Addicts is a great song title, sounding far gentler than the title suggests, laid back sun dappled indie psyche loveliness for some rather rum goings on. Bringing You The Love gentle whisper in your ear imprecations, to let them give you the love you need, it's all gentle caresses and slow worshipping of the divine love they want to share with you, cool harmonies and slow lilting music bringing you together.
Frank De Salvo is more forceful in an almost Stone Roses psychedelic haze, this tale of Frank De Salvo's lothario ways, what that magical organ says about him. Long Drawn Sunday Night is the comedown after the weekends party, a soft shuffle of memories and fond feelings with some wonderfully picked acoustic guitar.
Peaches is the first song to feature Pauline Hynds (One Dove) sharing the vocals, on what sounds like an upbeat smiley anthem for the loved-up ecstasy generation, supple guitars, please to give me soul, get yourself high, totally in tune with the times.
Dirty Clothing is something The Orchids really don't want to deal with, but when you get this loved up, sometimes you have to go to work in yesterday's Dirty Clothing, slow deliberate guitar has essence of Galaxie 500 twirling through it, no matter how tired these adventures make them.
Definition Of A Bastard is a short cartoon like interlude that leads into Moon Lullaby that gently cocoons you in a web of loveliness, you can hold each other tight while staring up at The Moon. Coloured Stone has almost Captain Beefheart style guitars, but with the soft vocals more like Orange Juice, this almost sounds out of place yet fits Perfectly.
The Sadness Of Sex Pt 1 is very gentle loving to begin with, but with odd vocal samples and a kind of jangly dub breakdown, asking if you’d send them flowers, like this is a foppish lover's dance epic, that shifts into Waiting For The Storm of recriminations at the end of the loved up period, only with slow subtle shards of guitars and keyboards for the gentlest storm imaginable.
The original album and the first cd closed with You Know I'm Fine the regrets once you've parted ways, he has wasted his time with you, but he's fine, it was a good experience, this has that late night drowning yourself in red wine feel to it.
The second disc and the Penetration EP opens with Bemused, Confused And Bedraggled a jangling indie pop tune that might have a Nikki Sudden/Dave Kusworth style title and lyrical implications, but sounds more like The Jazz Butcher, this is super catchy and makes me smile every time I hear it.
Pelican Blonde sounds like the hash that was around at the start of the 90's, they sound blissed out, laid back in a Magic Hour slow epic way, guitars wash over you, colours flash in front of you. Tropical Fishbowl has gentle harmonies and acoustic loveliness for calling names and hoping for the love you crave.
How Does That Feel they need to know just how you feel after they have spent time with you and all the things you did together, so patiently it broke him. Can he give you pain and tears, can he be that rotter while sounding so calm and in control.
The Something For The Longing single opened with Sigh a slowed down euphoric indie rave anthem, blissful loved up with almost a Happy Mondays baggy beat, bass breakdown and choice vocal sample helping them to kick back and Sigh.
Something For The Longing has a strangely out of place slow military drumbeat, begging and pleading for your love within the jangly guitars and soft psychedelia, asking for something to take the morning afters pain away.
Farewell, Dear Bonnie you've gone away and left them to the mellowest of moods, while begging you to stay and give them one more chance to perfect the perfect Indie wallflower fringe, letting them continue showering them with love.
The album closes On A Sunday the perfect day for them to ask you some questions, helping them spill their heart and soul to you, while crying no tears, behaving like the polar opposite of the how gently loving this music sounds.
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