As sure as smoke means fire, where there are psychedelics, the sitar is certain to follow. George Harrison and Brian Jones were largely responsible for introducing the Indian instrument to Western audiences in the 1960s, and it’s satisfying to see its mystical qualities still enhancing the mood of music lovers half a century later. Byron Bay’s The Babe Rainbow have risen to the challenge of being modern-day champions of the ancient Indian instrument, and they carry the weight of expectation with aplomb on this debut self-titled EP.
Describing their style as ‘punk mushroom’ on social media is somewhat misleading; in truth this EP owes significant debt to the Kinks and the Beatles as well as Syd Barrett and Kevin Ayers. At only four tracks and 12 minutes it’s a brief but absorbing release, opening with the infectiously jangly Love Forever. Galloping single Secret Enchanted Broccoli Forest flips the calendar back to the summer of love with the aforementioned Eastern flavours; Planet Junior brings us down to a much mellower level; and closing number Ash May and Dr. Love Wisdom is deceptively dark.
Refreshingly, The Babe Rainbow isn’t a wig-out affair that gets lost in a droning fog, but rather a comfortably hazy, psychedelic twang-fest reined in by three-minute pop song structure. Incorporating pop sensibilities is an ace move, ensuring these tracks are fun, catchy and just a little silly.
BY PAUL MCBRIDE
