The Pictish Trail - Secret Soundz Vol. 2

Scotland has a tendency to spew forth a range of eclectic rural musical experimentalists whose heavenly calling toward absolute sonic madness has somehow propelled them into the public domain. Fence Records head- honcho Johnny Lynch, aka The Pictish Trail, is largely responsible for the most recent outbreaks of surrealism through his wonderful label but also
due to his own releases.

‘Secret Soundz Vol 2’ is a beautiful album. Partly comprised of instrumentals originally intended for a short children’s film, the album is a day-glo pop carousel, as schizophrenic as it is scrappy. ‘Long in the Tooth’ is a frighteningly catchy number-one-in-an-alternate-post-Mayan-apocalypse-universe. ‘Michael Rocket’ is sad and reflective and uplifiting all at once. ‘The Handstand Crowd’ manages to wield an accordion effectively without sounding like a Mumford or son while also giving sage advice on the perils of excess partying.

There’s hints of the Beta Band, Guided By Voices, even the Associates throughout the album but Johnny Lynch’s vision is singular. What that vision actually entails isn’t clear, but it’s a hell-of-a lot-of fun listening to try and figure it out.