Horrorful Heights/Gatefold Sleeve

Description

Horrorful Heights marks a formidable new chapter in the deep and legendary catalog of The Bevis Frond, highlighting the enduring creativity of composer, guitarist, and lead singer Nick Saloman as he embarks on a new decade of recording. Long established as one of the most distinctive voices in British underground rock, Saloman continues to refine the band's signature blend of melodic psychedelia, edgy guitar epics, and vivid, emotionally sensitive songwriting. Horrorful Heights offers one of the most accessible entry points into the band's world in years: a record that brings together their core strengths into a coherent and vibrant set. Recorded with long-time drummer Dave Pearce and guitarist Paul Simmons, alongside new bassist Louis Wiggett, the album fluidly oscillates between clicking psych-pop, heavily illuminated guitar workouts, and pastoral descent daydreams. Wiggett also adds surprising color to the Frond palette, bringing pedal steel to "Best Laid Plans" and "Momma Bear," reminiscent of early 70s British country rock from Bronco or Cochise. The album's scope is broad yet distinctly defined. "Draining The Bad Blood" inspires the classic style of guitar-driven melodic pop that Bevis Frond is known for — cut from the same cloth as long-time fan favorites, later covered by Teenage Fanclub and The Lemonheads. "Space Age Eyes," a concise nine-minute odyssey, nods to the transcendent explorations of Miles Davis's electric work in the 70s, featuring a flamboyant solo from Simmons and rhythmic elasticity from Pearce. The sitar-laden title track, written on a whim while Saloman was half-watching a football match, drifts through incense-tinged psychedelia with layered vocals and falling tablas — a fond echo of the mysticism of garage shops he has explored throughout the band's history. Elsewhere, "Mossback's Dream" blends lysergic protagonists with the propulsive energy of 80s American hardcore, forging a hybrid that is both timeless and uniquely its own. Other highlights include Byrds-tinged "Buffaloed," the swirling narrative slow burn of "Silver Insects," and "That's Your Lot," a quick burst of melancholic euphoria and one of the album's most immediate songs. While undeniably eclectic, Horrorful Heights presents a targeted portrait of The Bevis Frond in 2026 – vital, melodic, and devoid of nostalgia. Saloman simply describes the collection: the best songs he has written in recent years, arriving effortlessly and instinctively. The result is a late peak from one of the most quietly influential British underground bands.