Uncle Colin's Greenhouse

Left Hand Drive

Need cheering up? Then have a listen to this...

Uncle Colin's Greenhouse is the first album from Derbyshire group Left Hand Drive. Twelve passionate songs, recorded at the Foundry and Henmore Grange in Derbyshire with a host of talented local musicians that makes the trio's sound fuller and richer.

One of the best things about this band is that they just won't fit in a pigeonhole how ever hard you try, you think you've got them in there and then you notice a bit of pop or reggae sticking out to confound you. I can say categorically that it's all acoustic material (well, nearly). At the end of the day it's that hard to pin down element is what makes them, just like 3 Daft Monkeys, so exciting.

The singer and guitarist Chris Carr has penned all twelve tracks, his carefully directed stream of consciousness style works equally well on the summery opening track Mr Wonder or the plaintive She Comes She Goes. Whilst the acoustic guitar is the bedrock of their sound, all those collaborating musicians lend each track a distinctive sound. What's Wrong has a flute toying with Carr's vocals through it, 34c has a gorgeous trumpet dancing around it's caribbean rythms.

Despite the variety of contributions to their sound, they never lose their own core elements, the harmonica playing of Jim Gilmour particularly shines. Simon Ball manages the rhythm and percussion with a light touch. It may be the fact that these guys had been playing together for several years before producing this album that it sounds so polished.

It's a great album that manages to be summery and upbeat without getting the least bit predictable.

Iain Hazlewood