Wichita Rec.
Euros Childs : Chops (WA,2006)**°'
Euros Childs brainchild from the Welsh pysch-pop group Gorky's Zygotic Mynci must have thought it was about time for a solo release, and this is it, with the original group sound obviously still recognisable, as well as some other ideas. I havenn't heard all GZM releases but I pretty much like the way they started, with a clearer psychedelic touch at first and longer tracks. I have one of the later albums which is a bit more focused on regular pop songs with its own typical colourful pleasantness.
One of the first, "other" ideas is recognised in the first, homerecorded mini-track "Billy the seagull" which sounds familiar to an ethnical folk preservation grandpa recording, with some additional vocal arrangements.
The 4th track, "Slip Slip Away", probably from the same tape session is a child-like idea of a unique “inspired” moment, focused as a be-as-inventive-as-a-child homerecording, with its fitting additional outsider electric toy piano and other vocal arrangements. This track sounds like one of these unique “Incredible Strange Recordings”. In general, I think that such ideas are again more generally accepted, after the I-know-what-I’m-doing attitude of the be-the-hippie things from Devendra Banhart or the hotel recording clever first CD project from Cocorosie. I could have accepted a complete album like this, which would have become something like the second Red Crayola album. But in between these two is a just somewhat annoying track.
This first track of two, called "Donkey Island" is also available in a single version. It is somewhat deliberate, be-an-idiot, honky donkey dance music related, probably meant as a self-proclaimed humoristic note, which is forgivable, but if you don’t like disco, why make it ? (or make a lot).
"Dawnsio dros y mor" has comparable funny(?) rhythms, and is a song in Spanish, or at least what sounds like Spanish learned from a Welsh book.
"Costa Rita" after that, is a bright light, cheering up pop song, with city-music imitated exotic rhythms, and charming beach sunny day vocal sweetness, which I know could have expected to have come from Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. This also includes flutes, soft handclaps and parasols. "Stella is a Pigmy #1" is the most melancholic, and shortest song, which loses at once all its grieving emotionality at the point when one realises the absurdity of the title and the existence of this one line-song.
"My country girl" is a romantic, but also fun making country song.
The beautiful "Circus time" is the second melancholy moment, with piano and vocal arrangements, which is followed by the similar "Cynhaeaf" track.
"Hi Mewn Socasau" starts as rockn' roll, with the voice coming from further away, but the singer with the song goes back to the beach sphere with more sweet "oooohs" and "aaaahs" arrangements (very much like GZM).
Both "Stella is a Pigmy #2" and even more the track "Surf Rage" have beautiful melancholy and emotionality, with piano and at least some vocal arrangements.
"First time I saw you" is a well fitting sweet psychpop track with acoustic guitars, piano and additional sequenced electronica.
"Stella is a Pigmy #3" makes a perfect and beautiful conclusion (just voices and organ).
2001 radioshow webpage which included the Gorky's Zygotic Mynci here
