Sunny Casinos hasn’t got anything to do with gambling as far as I can tell. It has got lots to do with folktronica as the album of ten tracks seems heavily influenced by other bands on the scene. The tracks run one after another producing 37 minutes of continuous performance, it’s like Glideascope going folky.

The band consists of Hugo Manuel (guitar, piano, voice, accordion, bassoon, glockenspiel, melodica, computer), Jody Prewett (acoustic guitar, bouzouki), Benjamin Rimmer (violin, guitar, melodica, organ), Kit Monteith (drums, percussion, bowed kit) and Sam (double bass, trumpet, horn) and it’s not all pretty ambient musings. Regular readers will know I like anything resembling the melodica of Augustus Pablo, accordions of Les Negresses Vertes and anything remotely approaching a bit of free jazz (the title track). All this is included here on a bed of acoustic guitars, varied electronica and a few samples. There’s even some bits that sound like the start of Yes’ ‘And You And I’, Oldfield’s Tubular Bells and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

Even more impressive that this was all recorded in a bedroom in Oxford apparently. I’ve been playing it throughout the summer and it’s the closest I get to a meditative state but you’ve got to listen to it as a whole. However, ‘Square Rigger’ stands out for its Tunngness but I’d overlook the lullaby music box bit at the end. The other thing I’m not too keen on is the line ‘Ring A Ring A Roses’ in ‘You’re Not My Mind’ (or any other song for that matter).

With those minor gripes over with, this album is almost perfection and is very impressive for a debut album. It’s the early Pink Floyd acoustic album they never made and I’m fully recommending this one for you Mixmaster Morris heads.

The album launch party must have been a special night as Nedelle tripped over from California to support.

Player or not, leave your dancing shoes at home, open up your mind at the sunny casino and try your hand on the ambient roulette; everyone’s a winner.

P.S. The last track has nothing to do with Big Brother’s Grace Adams-Short.

Reviewed — Jonquil -Sunny Casinos (Try Harder Records) Cat. No. WORK005 CD Release Date: 26th June 2006
Tracklisting:
1. Avignon (4:09)
2. There Is No Ian Bridgwater (2:39)
3. Alhambra (0:53)
4. You’re Not My Mind (4:56)
5. Too Late (7:22)
6. Square Rigger (5:27)
7. Sunny Casinos (3:33)
8. Tracing (3:11)
9. Woodstock (2:58)
10. Full Of Grace’s Bitterness (2:28)

Links:
www.myspace.com/jonquiluk
www.myspace.com/tryharderrecords
http://www.tryharderrecords.com/
Drowned in Sound “The Port Mahon pub is located at 82 St. Clements Street, OX4 1AW”