Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} - The Zombies Album Review

The Zombies

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Album Review

Arthur Lee, Lou Reed, and John Martyn have all been at it.

Back from the dead, The Zombies are road-testing their seminal album, the famously misspelled Odessey & Oracle, 40 years after its original release.

Caught live at Shepherd's Bush Empire London on one of their three nights in March 2008. Lee toured successfully for years with Forever Changes, Lou Reed has just done Berlin (again) and Martyn did Solid Air last year. Odessey And Oracle is widely regarded as their Pet Sounds or Sgt.Peppers. From the sound of things it was a magical night for band and fans alike as they roll back the years to the Summer Of Love.

Their unique blend of Baroque pop, beat and psychedelia doesn't seem to have dated one iota. Pure 60s pop opens the set, with the sunshine groove of the hook-laden Care Of Cell 44 sounding much like the surf sound of the Beach Boys, consolidated by fab close harmonies, indicative of the time. Things cool off for the divine piano lead beauty A Rose For Emily, with some deft lead vocal swapping- this should be on everybody's iPod: it's one of the finest songs of the 60s.One of their most channelling moments has to be the full on vocal a Capella close to a stirring Maybe After He's Gone. A major highlight is the awesome recreation of complex opus-like Brief Candles with Blunstone delivering one of his finest vocal performances of the night. This is followed by the psychedelic classic Changes, featuring masterful close harmonies once again. Their earlier pop template returns on the Beach Boys / Turtles-sounding extravaganza: the hum happy melodies are mind-boggling. Upping the psychedelia, This Will Be Our Year smacks of Sgt.Peppers - storming brass and whopping chorus bringing a massive response. The hits - Time Of The Season, Tell Her No and She's Not There are just magnificent.

On CD2, now called The Zombies Touring Band, they delve into solo work by Blunstone and Rod Argent. I Love You a B-side of Whenever You're Ready, peaking at 110 in America in 1965, sounds fantastic. It should have been the A-side. One of the show's major highlights is the stunning tear-jerking ballad Her Song, sung by Blunstone and strings only - wow! Hi solo hit Say You Don't Mind is equally impressive.

Finishing a great night, they unleash Argent's (Rod Argent) brilliant Hold Your Head Up, complete with extended organ improvisation.

Elly Roberts