Andrew Gold is The Fraternal Order Of The All - Greetings From Planet Love

Hmmm…. doesn’t that album art look familiar? Well, in truth, that’s the point here, with everything on (deep breath…) Greetings From Planet Love by Andrew Gold is The Fraternal Order Of The All, intentionally familiar. Initially released in 1997, the hope here isn’t to whip you back to the era of raves, indie-pop and grunge, but instead right back into the 60s, where psychedelic pop ruled. Yes, it’s all been done before and Andrew Gold knows it, but that’s half the fun because while nothing is played for laughs on this album it’s because Andrew knows that he and we are all in on the joke. A quick squint at the liner notes of this CD discovers a fake band, with a fake history that makes for fun reading. In reality, other than guest appearances from Graham Gouldman (10CC) and a couple of others, this entire 20 track endeavour is Gold alone.

Now, if you’re wondering who this golden one is, Andrew Gold did actually have a brief dalliance with 10CC and teamed up just prior to this album with Gouldman in Wax, while also having a few notable hits as a solo artist. Those influences can also be heard here, but through the prism of mid to latter era Beatles, a little Beach Boys and then the occasional sideways move into territory The Doors used to occupy. That it’s all done with a real sense of affection is where this album really wins through and I’d guess that anyone who likes to take The Magical Mystery Tour for a spin would nod approvingly as the likes of “Tuba Rye and Will’s Son/Balloon In The Sky� skilfully mixes that style with something a whole lot more Surfin’ USA. Admittedly the second half of the song veers unexpectedly into Wings territory, but “Freelove Baby� swerves the time machine back into an early Beatles sounds, although the little sitar embellishments also nods at a different era of that band as well. And so it continues, “�Wink Of The Third Eye� swirling in dayglo colours and even a Ringo-esque narration, while “Twirl� adds some serious, sombre strings to great effect. “Ride The Snake� on the other hand makes no bones about being a 'long lost’ Doors track, right down to the lithe Morrison like vocal.

I’m not always a fan of albums that simply set out to ape classic sounds of the past, but when the wink and nod you receive along the way is as knowing and wilful as the one you’re given here, it’s hard not to simply accept the good intentions and enjoy the ride. Credit to Andrew Gold, because this really is a well observed recreation of a time gone by that ain’t ever coming back. If a while spent back in those days sounds like your kind of trip, you’d be mad to miss out…. man…

Track Listing
1. Greetings from Planet Love

2. Rainbow People 

3. Love Tonight

4. Chasing My Tail 

5. Swirl

6. Tuba Rye and Will’s Son / Balloon in the Sky

7. King of Showbiz 

8. Whirl

9. Freelove Baby

10. Groovy Party at Jimmy’s Magic Pad

11. It’s Beautiful

12. Wink of the Third Eye

13. It Has No Eyes But Sight

14. Twirl

15. Space and Time

16. Time is Standing Still

17. Ride the Snake

18. Mr Plastic Business Man

19. Ccosmicc Ccarnivall

20. Tomorrow Drop Dead

Added: January 19th 2024
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Andrew Gold @ Cherry Red
Hits: 279
Language: english

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