Search - Dr Strangely Strange :: Alternative Medicine

It's different, but it's strangely strange alright !

02/15/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Dr. Strangely Strange first came to my attention by means of the Incredible String Band records - to several of those records the Strangelies have contributed. A Strangely song ("Strings in the earth and Air") was even included on Williamson's "Myrrh" ! The first record I bought was "Heavy Petting", and later I found the cd-version of "Kip of the Serenes". I even had a chance to see them play live when they performed at the Incredible String Band Convention in Leeds (1995) and talk a bit to Ivan Pawle, who said to me that the cd version of "Kip" was no good: it's at a lower speed than the original. Hope the record company will amend that.As I've seen them live in 1995, I already knew that their music had changed considerably: much less "naive" and a much more electric approach, like a regular rock band. Nevertheless, I was a little bit disappointed when I heard this record for the first time, just hoping for songs like those on "Kip". But, as time passed, I began to like and even to love this gentle and modest record, which has a lot of real goodies on it. The initial disappointment has definitely gone, and I would recommend this record to anybody !There are some lovely instrumentals on this album (like "Lilty's") and some really great songs ("Darksome Burn" especially). As the songs are written by different band members the mood swings from one end to another, but it's a pleasing whole. Interesting detail is the appearance of Gary Moore, who, when very young, already played a part in the making of "Heavy Petting" (most notably on the gentle and beautiful "Sign on my mind"). I've played this record to peope who didn't know the band and who are not even remotely interested in the hippie era, and their reactions have been quite favourable - it seems that Dr. Strangely Strange has emerged as strange as they were, but ready for a new era.Hans Wigman"

Difficult Indeed

Kerry Leimer | Makawao, Hawaii United States | 06/15/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Dr. Strangely Strange is another of those remarkably unique bands that never seems to find a significant audience. Their earlier recordings were full of humor and a lot of their laughter made it onto the vinyl. Both "Kip of the Serenes" and "Heavy Petting" were solidly in the folk genre, covering the ground largely staked out by The Incredible String Band at one end and Fairport Convention at the other. In fact, Dave Mattacks contributed some outstanding drumming on "Heavy Petting", and the Doctors did some work with ISB. Unlike ISB, the Stranglies did not seem to be bothered with the pretensions of creating high art. They were having a good time, and the feelings come straight through each song. Appropriately subtitled "The Difficult Third Album", "Alternative Medicine" is their first release in almost 30 years. It preserves the humor and charm of their earlier recordings as well as their remarkable ability to write and play beautiful melodies. Not many bands bother with melody any more, but these guys do, and do so better than most. Many of the tunes, especially "Darksome Burn", are not as easy to classify as their earlier songs, and are all the more appealing for it. More mature writing and high production values also set this release apart from the earlier work. It is great to hear them still writing, still playing after all this time. In an industry obsessed with target marketing and classification, Dr. Strangely Strange continues to dance to their own tunes. Buy this CD and you're buying something distinctive. Then learn to love this music. You'll be better for it."