Just when you think that all new music must have been genetically programmed into existence and is duly lacking in any nutritional value, along comes a band with an interesting name – Floating Witch’s Head – that’s sounds like they just happened because that’s the way it is supposed to be. So, onwards into the didactic of their album “You Look Like A Rainbow”.
Is there actually deeper meaning in these twelve songs? After all, what you hear, on first acquaintance, is some meandering rock music that draws on the more chemically inspired excesses of the seventies for inspiration with some lyrics that seem to pull their motivation from both the past and the inside. A twisted out of shape inside at that with value added spirituality of the kind that comes after being trapped on a runaway train whilst on mushrooms. There’s plenty of maximum volume appeal with the standard rock band wall of sound being present and correct yet there is also something quasi poetic about the proceedings. The pace – powered by a big block V8, I would hope - varies from the downright casual in “Little Tiny Wings” to the delicately poised “Pretty World” to the manic “Movin’ On” and onwards into the grungy floor stomping of “Fuzzy Details” yet all that is here, rather curiously, seems to work as one.
“You Look Like A Rainbow” is often untidy and duly sounds almost real even if this band’s particular reality is more of an adventure in rambling on your mind whilst always being on the cusp of a descent into cacophony. No sane or sober man would argue with that. No sane or sober man would find meaning in the music of Floating Witch’s head but I am, fortunately, neither sane nor sober.
Best song: “Movin’ On”
Verdict: Rambling in my mind.