You might perhaps think that there should be purpose to music. A purpose other than to entertain, that is. A purpose that leads the listener to some deeper meaning or, at least, sets them on a path to spiritual enlightenment. Or perhaps it is triviality that truly defines us and, to that end, we have the example of “The Oatcake Guide to Natural History” by The Lonely Oatcake.
Certainly, the Lonely Oatcake – led, as always by Tommy Muggleton - do like to dwell on the insignificant with songs inspired by yellow tomatoes, trees, melons and manatees featuring on this album but is this really triviality dissolved into song or are these songs an ironic commentary on our society as it descends into eternal mediocrity? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps or perhaps I am suffering from an overdose of alcohol fuelled philosophy.
Nonetheless, there is, undoubtedly, something more than there should be in this album with these songs that never really go anywhere or even seem to be about anything important sticking inside your head for far longer than you might expect so perhaps there is something in eschewing pretension after all.
The album is available as a free download from Bandcamp.