The group known as The Deviants released their debut album Ptooff! back in 1967, originally on the Undergrond Impresarios label before being picked up by Decca for mainstream release in the UK and Sire in the US. Angel Air has just reissued and remastered this little oddball of a release, but despite the underground feel of this album, there's no denying that The Deviants were probably way ahead of their time with their mix of flower power, psychedelia, early punk, folk, and hard rock.
The band were comprised of Mick Farren (vocals and piano), Russ Hunter (drums, vocals), Cord Reese (bass, guitar, vocals), and Sanderdson, Sparkes and Ashworth (vocals and mumbling). Together they created some really 'out there' music, but then again, this was the late '60s so stuff of this nature was often the norm. "I'm Coming Home" is a wild slice of psychedelia not unlike Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, with plenty of crazy sound effects and slashing lead guitar, while "Child of the Sky" sees the bands folk leanings come to the forefront. "Charlie" is more of a rambling, psychedelic folky blues tune (Grateful Dead anyone?), and "Garbage" mixes early Who & Stones influences with a punk attitude that we didn't actually see for a few years until The Stooges came along and much later on The Sex Pistols. Reese tosses in some nice guitar on "Bun", and "Deviation Street" is another noisy, Mods vs Punks rave-up, with Farren delivering some truly bizarre vocals & spoken word statements.
I don't know, even though there's certainly some historical significance here, as The Deviants were definitely creating some wild avant-garde music before it became fashionable, much like Captain Beefheart you either 'get it' or you don't. At a little over 30 minutes this one is over before you know it, with half the songs being pretty interesting and the others, well, are somewhat just noise to these ears. For those willing to invest in some late '60s psychedelia and hear a glimpse of what early punk might have sounded like, this might just be something to investigate.
As always Angel Air have done a marvelous job here with the overall presentation, including a booklet packed with interviews and information on the band.
Track Listing
1) Opening
2) I'm Coming Home
3) Child of the Sky
4) Charlie
5) Nothing Man
6) Garbage
7) Bun
8) Deviation Street
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
