Search - July :: July

Excellent British psych with a garage edge

Elliot Knapp | Seattle, Washington United States | 09/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard of July via Jade Warrior, which included two July members and came slightly later as the psych boom was giving way to the beginnings of progressive rock. When I first heard of this album, it was pretty rare and not cheap. Thankfully, we've got this recent reissue to sink our teeth into, and it's affordable!



As far as British psychedelic rock goes (and I definitely count myself a fan of the genre), July fares really well. They existed in an era when rock was still single-driven, so the album features a couple tracks that were much more popular as singles than the entire album or the band ever managed to get. "My Clown" is classic British radio psych, with trippy, treated guitars and vocal harmonies. The song's fade-out is priceless haze. Probably my favorite track is #2, the less-successful single "Dandelion Seeds," which moves on a pretty jazzy groove and features a really far-out bridge. "Jolly Mary" is classic whimsical British pop a la "Yellow Submarine" or "My White Bicycle" from Tomorrow or any of Syd Barrett's more playful moments on The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Other highlights are the sitar-driven "The Way" and the odd but pounding "Crying is for Writers."



The whole record has a slightly lo-fi (though the remastering is good) sound to it, but it goes along pleasantly with the style of performance and music. At times, the vocals can be a bit rough, but usually it's endearing. It's also worth noting that one aspect that separates July from the rest of the British psychedelic pack of the day is the use of "world" instruments like tabla and sitar (though sitar really wasn't uncommon in those days). These elements definitely foreshadow the sublime works that would later be produced by Jade Warrior that would fuse heavy guitar with saturated atmospheres and world folk music elements. A few tracks don't leave as strong of impressions as others (not surprising for an era when singles were the focus), but overall July is just as strong an album as most of the classics of the era whose names are often tossed around. If you like this, you should also check out the aforementioned Tomorrow, Kaleidoscope, The Move as well as Jade Warrior."

60's Psyche-Pop

Louis Mercado | Astoria, New York | 08/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Very good reissue of "lost" 1968 psyche pop masterpiece. Original copies sell for around $100. Here, you get the entire album plus single versions of several tracks. Of note, "My Clown", has to be one of the greatest garage/psyche/pop singles ever. Vocals sung through an effects device, sung in what i believe to be a minor key and a blistering bridge with guitars and pounding drums. Only drawback is the Mono mix and the cover art but you get excellent notes and photos."

July - self-titled (Rev-Ola)

Mike Reed | USA | 10/11/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Originally released in 1968, this was the British psychedelic band's only album. That's too bad because I believe these guys had more to say. I've heard about this lesser-known group, but this was the first time I got to check out the entire reissue CD. Very nice. Tunes I was digging the most were "Dandelion Seeds", the catchy "Jolly Mary", the tripping "Way", "Crying Is For Writers" {awesome track}, both versions of "Mr. Clown" and "Hello, Who's There?". Line-up: Tom Newman-vocals, Tony Duhig (Jade Warrior)-guitar, John Field (also, later in Jade Warrior)-flute & keybaords, Allan James-bass and Chris Jackson-drums. Should draw in fans of the Action, La De Das, early Who, the Creation and Pretty Things."