Never-Neverland 1971 Album

Pink Fairies

Appropriate title for an album that in a lot of ways, was made 20 years too early, and in others, definitely lives up to its zany standard. The Pink Fairies basically picked up from where the Deviants, a notorious underground psychedelic act in the U.K., left off and made three quizzical records with moderately shifting lineups. For the debut, they were a four-piece, anchored by the double drum attack of John "Twink" Alder and Russell Hunter. More than the last two albums, Never Never Land reflects the psych past that they came out of, and blends it with burgeoning punk and hard rock elements with the same sort of indie sensibility which colleagues Hawkwind were pursuing. And it usually works well. Even when presented with dead ends, the band seems to crank back up again on another groove with no issue. There are some high water-marks, specifically the title-track's inital gentle rhythms which lead into a heavier finishing kick, "Uncle Harry's Last Freak Out" - which by sheer length is meant to be the focal point - and "Teenage Rebel", which appears to draw massive inspiration from Deep Purple's "Speed King". Or how about "War Girl", which is endlessly fascinating on so many levels, and defies description? As stated before, this is a bit stop-and-start in places, but taken on its' own terms, is an album that should be more celebrated than it is now.