Lemon Jelly KY - Lemon Jelly > Reviews > Lemon Jelly: Lost Horizons...but found talent!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it rate alongside the competition	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Highly original .  Excellent cover design .  Long tracks .  Exciting, enjoyable and talented music .  Lots of styles and techniques .
Disadvantages:	Odd dull track, with nothing new to offer .  Acquired taste of music .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

If you're wondering what the title of this review has to do with Lemon Jelly KY, then maybe if I told you that Lemon Jelly had an album entitled "Lost Horizons", you'd make a bit more sense of it. This review is designed to cover the KY album, although I hope to write a review for Lost Horizons at a later date.
Ky is actually a compilation of three Lemon Jelly EP's, taking sample tracks from each.

Firstly lets look at the design (since this is a real unique charm with Lemon Jelly CD covers), the CD cover has a somewhat arty appearance and is best described as a red, fading to yellow background (from top to bottom) with circles, globules and rings of colour, including green, yellow, pink, red, purple and white. Ok, so we've decided that it looks nice but what about the music? (please note that only selected tracks have been reviewed here, based on their merits).

Well the first track is called "In The Bath" and comes across to me as a very relaxing track (as with a lot of Lemon Jelly music). A wonderful effect is used from the outset to sound like drops of water, which is slowly upstaged by a small beat and a basic tune. The track is clever in the fact that it slowly builds up to a steady rhythm, yet has stop and start points to keep your attention. The sounds and tune compliment each other along with sparing use of vocals which all fits perfectly in what is one of my favourite tracks on the CD (and thats saying something).

The second EP (Yellow EP) kicks off with a track entitled "King Raam". This track starts off with a gentle and seemingly child-like lullaby-like tune, which is somehow very pleasing to listen to. This is quickly interjected with speech, concerning King Raam, who is described as great, loving, kind, strong and courageous.
The track then comes back with a variant of the basic tune and adds in another, less rhythmic tune on top which forms some truly remarkable music. The beat also steadily builds, but still keeps the gentle charm which gives this track a prominent "fairy tale" feel to it. Completely different tunes and beats, still on the same rhythmic level and within the same style also interject at various intervals to offer variety and depth to the track. This track also has a habit of knocking down beats that it has built up, only to rebuild them again with a new tune to compliment. This continually altering style really makes this a memorable tracks and definately one of the top three on this album.

The final track of the Yellow EP is entitled "Homage to Patagonia". This track consistently holds a very atmospheric and travelling feel to it. The beginning of the track has a tendancy to sound rather like "lift" or "shopping mall" music, but stick with it and listen deeper - this track has a lot to offer. At the start, a somewhat prominent beat kicks in. This then dies down to break into a calmer and soothing tune with a steady beat and some excellent use of percussion to compliment. The beat then seems to continually build itself up to a louder and more exciting section of the track, only to lose itself again, with a new tune or section of the track, with the basic beat, rhythm and percussion staying consistent. This track is truly unique and really stands out among others on this CD. There are sections which seem to sound like some sort of african guitar, while other parts of the track involve a sort of "clapping" sound. The tune also varies to suit the music and tune, but still inkeeping with the original beat and feel of the track. Various tunes are returned to at suitable times, to keep the whole track flowing and moving with an outstanding variety of truly inspiring music.
After about 5 and a half minutes, the track climaxes at an exciting beat, only to fall silent and slip into a completely different section, with a sort of marching beat, smothered with an excellent voaclistic tune. Other elements are also then brought back (including the percussion) in order to push the track into its final stages, bringing back the fast and prominent beat. The vocalistic element changes into an almost surreal sound as it is mixed with an almost electronic sound. My only objection with this track is the ending, which switches from the track in full flow to a single bass guitar string, just about murmuring the basic tune. It certainly gives a very different sound to the track, but doesnt seem to be a fitting end to an almost spectacular track.

The first track of the final EP (Midnight EP) is entitled "Page One". This track starts with a sci-fi type sound. This is slowly taken over by a subtle beat that periodically expresses itself over a growing and progressing tune. This tune develops itself by introducing an "organ" type sound over its final chords. This track is actually outstanding. It builds up with a very pleasing and enjoyable tune. This is a background for a speech which encourages the listener to imagine the very beginning of time, when nothing existed. Once the speech finishes, the beat seems to sound as if it has stopped being opressed and unleashes itself with a burst of tune in an amazing display of sound which can really help you hit the "tingle factor". All sorts of styles are incorporated, from piano to synthesizer style of sound and effect. It all fits and works together perfectly and makes for a very enjoyable and entertaining track. This is actually my favourite track on the entire CD. The beat remains constant as the tune florishes and slowly dies away, only to come back stronger, better and more exciting then before. There are variations throughout the track which seem to sound almost like music from an exciting sci-fi film. To me, THIS track really represents the magic that Lemon Jelly are capable of!

So I've reviewed several of the tracks on the Ky album. It has to be said that these were my favourite tracks on there. Others, such as "Nervous Tension" don't really seem to cut it for me as they don't seem to stand apart from other tracks and can tend to sound somewhat dull.
The music of Lemon Jelly is very original and groundbreaking. They have spent much time looking at various styles and techniques and spent ages trying out such methods, just to see what they can fit together to make the brilliant tracks that are on this CD. Lemon Jelly is not one of those groups that has simply strolled along to weave itself into the world of music in an insignificant and unnoticable way. They has actually come along and shown us all that music can still push new boundaries.
thats not to say that everyone will hail Lemon Jelly music as the best they've heard, of course.
In fairness, Lemon Jelly is a very contemporary style of music that simply does not suit all tastes. Infact, it is rather an acquired taste and it is for this reason, in part that I have not awarded it a top rating (although I was more tempted to do so then a woman on a diet would be to tuck into a Thorntons box of chocolates).
My advice, if you haven't yet experienced the world of Lemon Jelly is to go and listen to their music. Even if it means buying a CD, only to refund it if you're not impressed, do it. This music is not to be ignored!