The eagerly awaited second volume of outtakes and rarities from the Rabbits Hat early years is finally here. In years to come people will discover the Rabbits Hat and scratch there heads wondering why they were not better known at the time. Although recorded in the mid 90's, their sound would not have been out of place as one the classic Vertigo, Island or Charisma releases in the early 70's but this is far from retro psych prog folk rock. It still sounds fresh and invigorating now...a good decade on from it's original sell by date.
This is the first of two volumes of Rabbits Hat demos, rarities and outtakes from their formative years. One of the striking things about this compilation is that the musical vision of the Rabbits Hat appears to have been formed with such clarity from the outset. All the ingredients we came to know and love were there at the outset. It's a great fusion of electric and acoustic psychedelic folk with streetwise lyrics and quintessentially English quirkiness.
Not quite a new album, firstly it clocks in at below 40 minutes and whilst that may have been standard in the old days of vinyl it would be considered more of a long e.p. in these days of CD. Secondly almost all of the songs will be familiar to Rabbits Hat fans. Of the 9 tracks 2 are covers and the rest have appeared in one form or another on other Rabbits Hat offerings. That said, it's hardly a fans only collection of outtakes or an "Unplugged" type offering. The album is refreshing and adventurous, full of the Rabbits Hat spirit with the addition of Terry Conner on violin and Dave Pipkin on Roland V Drums. taking some familiar work into new territory.
A slightly more experimental outing but there's no loss of the usual high standards of the Rabbits Hat, this album is far from self indulgent. It is a thoughtful excursion into lesser known territory without losing the trademark vocal harmonies, spacey guitar & great songwriting that we have come to know and love. The guitar work especially stands out from fine acoustic work through to pulsating soloing. At all times the key word is melody as songwriting is one of the major reasons why this band are so good. They have the knack of mixing catchy tunes with provoking lyrics and yet add an extra dimension with a slightly quirky nature to their delivery. They are no afraid to challenge their own boundaries by throwing in something that is alien to all that has gone before it. So we now get to add "uncompromising" to the list of things we appreciate about the Rabbits Hat.
Another astounding album from the Rabbits Hat. Their distinctive psych / prog / folk sound with a new wave attitude is on full form. Great songs and vocal performances as always. Echoes of Traffic, Jefferson Airplane, Genesis & Curved Air are evident with added grit and attitude.
A slight excursion from the usual Rabbits Hat offering. Steve Ellis takes the lead vocal for the entire album and Tim Jones gives his full attention to the production and engineering for this very respectful and tasteful tribute to Nick Drake.
The sun broke through is a continuation of everything we have come to expect from the Rabbits Hat. Amazing songs, outstanding instrumentation and stunning vocal harmonies. The overall sound is rooted in progressive rock or perhaps psych / folk but at times has an abrasiveness that is more at home in the post punk era of the early 80's. That said, there is nothing retro here. The production sounds refreshing and current.
Pierce the dark is Jazzy melodic progressive rock with floating Steve Hillage like guitar solos, well-written songs and lyrics. Terri and Tim's wonderful vocals are the focal point. Terri has a gorgeous voice and Tim has a distinctive voice comparable to a grittier Phil Collins. The two harmonize well and their style is soulful and dramatic giving the music a unique identity. Echoes of early Yes and Genesis with a bit of funk thrown in.
If you have not heard any of their albums then this is a good place to start. The wall-of-sound production is great on "Don't Stand Against The Skyline". Menage'a'Trois" sounds like Steven Stills, a hauntingly beautiful vocal built up in layers, also similar to The Strawbs or perhaps Jane Relf in Renaissance. The cascading guitar solo reminds me of Ray Manzarek's keyboard solo on The Doors "Riders On The Storm". "Charitied Out" is a powerful song indeed - the selfishness of charitable organisations, the homeless and the starving plus the national lottery, and the general feeling of "What's In It For Me?". I love "Wrap Me In Your Skin", perfect for a Terri B vocal, a love song for the early hours of the morning, with Crosby, Stills and Nash's "Marakesh Express" emerging through the mirage of sound. The vocal is almost spat at the listener on "Hydra" - two faced people or perhaps multi-faced people. The influences never detract, the lyrics are some of the best I have read/heard for some considerable time. This is music for the 90s with the sound at times of the 70s. I recommend them to you, you will not be disappointed.
Stone Premonitions is a label which was set up in 1994 by singer/guitarist Tim Jones, vocalist Terri-B and keyboard player Steve Ellis. Joined by Martin Holder (guitar), Rob Kirtley (bass) and Rabbit (drums), they formed The Rabbit's Hat. They brought out various self produced demos, and the same year, Dave Anderson (ex-Hawkwind, Groundhogs, Amon Duul) released the album "In Optic Mansion" and now they are launching as their label's first C.D. the present disc "Take Good Care".
The group is essentially a psychedelic band, but very individual, more like 70's West Coast than the new English psych-bands, with the focus of attention on the voices of Tim Jones (which has a resemblance to Roger Chapman) and Terri-B, with acoustic folksy support, mixed with superb Hillagesque guitar by Martin Holder. The group's approach can be strange at times and startling. "Angels And Lucre" brings in reggae, "Watch My Sanity Dissolve", "Changing The Guard" or "Dancing With The Demonised" are not uncommercial in a favourable sense, having straightforward catchy tunes. "Take Good Care" and "EpemeralFire" could be described as Sade on acid! "The Gap", as John Lee Hooker meets Family/Streetwalkers!! "Another Day, Another Hat", "Baffling The Sandmen" and "The Great And The Good" are pure Crosby, Stills and Nash. All this without omitting to brig in traditional elements of head music: hippy folk songs, female voice, wonderful vocal harmonies, spacey blues guitar or West Country feel.
The Rabbit's Hat do not fit into any specific period or place, but they have turner out a well made record, perhaps somewhat unorthodox at times if considered psychedelic rock, but that's one of it's attractions, conjuring for the listener echoes of a long era of music; music of all time, even.
