Fruit Bats Mouthfuls

8/10 Penrith Steve Customer review, 5th November 2014

Fruit Bats released the gloriously melodic folk rock album “Mouthfuls” in 2003. Eric D. Johnson’s nasal voice is reminiscent of antipodean acts such as Tall Drawfs and Grant McLennan of The Go-Betweens.

“Rainbow Sign” is beautiful, gentle harmonies glide over the melody. “A Bit of Wind” is a brilliant song that builds from an acoustic guitar to a cacophonous ending as the instruments pile on that recalls Mercury Rev, or perhaps the Polyphonic Spree. “The Little Acorn” reminds me of “Wots…Uh The Deal” from Pink Floyd’s “Obscured By Clouds”

There is a placid psychedelic undertone tying the whole album together. Eric D. Johnson also played guitar in the Shins, this may well appeal to fans of theirs.