★★★★
The Brotherhood Of Lizards aren’t simply a niche band.
‘Niche’ is to the Brotherhood as ‘ever-so-slightly driven by self-interest’ is to Donald Trump, and if you’re sitting there thinking, “Oh yeah, I know that band,” you’re either in a painfully slim minority, or you’re a liar.
And yet if anything seems ready to send the group lurching back into popular consciousness it’s Lizardland, a complete collection of the band’s recorded output.
Given The Cleaners From Venus’ Martin Newell composes one half of the Brotherhood, fans of that band will know what to expect. Lizardland is all rubbery choruses and lyrics that combine distinctly British surrealism with Creation Records-style paisley shirt references. Think The Smiths meets Monty Python and you’ll be close – close, but not quite there.
After all, a track like ‘The Dandelion Marine’ has a charm entirely of its own, and the nuanced genius of the Brotherhood often only becomes apparent in the album’s aftermath, when the gentle chords have been allowed the time to sink in.
Like dandelion tea spiked with acid, Lizardland is a particularly British glimpse at a particularly heavy trip.
LizardlandbyThe Brotherhood Of Lizardsis out now through Captured Tracks/Remote Control.
