RELATIVELY CLEAN RIVERS レコード& CD

Review: Much as it may surprise some, this isn't a new and wryly political band putting the climate crisis front and centre. Instead, Relatively Clean Rivers are a relatively poorly remembered band in the annals of mid-20th Century tunes, although digging a little deeper makes you realise just how much mythology and mystery surrounds this, the one album they gave to the world.

Headed up by Phil Pearlman, of The Beat of The Earth and The Electronic Hole fame, RCR takes you on a peyote-laced trip into the Californian desert to explore more experimental, dream-like ends of 1960s folk rock 'n' roll. Vivid enough to ensure you can pretty much smell the hemp, it's crucial to note this isn't just another one of those stoned hippie albums. The quality of what's on this (originally privately released) record is so good it went on to inspire the likes of Wilco.