These are depressing times that we live in. The government has - to use an Americanism – screwed the pooch and the country has consequently gone to the dogs. You would think therefore that an enterprising musician like Ewan Grant aka Algernon Doll might go for a collection of upbeat songs that would raise the spirits of all of us who are not currently on the line to the Samaritans. Or maybe not.
Camomile is a relaxing herbal tea and "Camomile", the album is similarly likely to slow your heart down. Filled to the brim with bleakness and melancholy, this album is the audio equivalent to rain. You know that it is a necessary part of life but you would readily leave the country to avoid it but that is not say that it is without merit for there are moments – such as "Tender Attention" and "Coast" -when you can appreciate that Algernon Doll has both his heart in the right place and the musical means to express his ideas. However, the near monotone drone of his vocals does tend to drag every song down into the mud making it something of a struggle to go the distance.
I'm sure that the low budget did not help matters and no doubt Algernon Doll will do better next time but for now I'm off to brew a nice cup of tea. Tea with caffeine in it, of course.