The Lickerish Quartet – Threesome Vol 1 (EP)

The Lickerish Quartet deliver an EP which is as close as we are going to get to a Jellyfish reunion.

Written by: Explorer

ARTIST: The Lickerish Quartet
ALBUM:Threesome Vol 1
LABEL: Label Logic
SERIAL: N/A. CD, Digital Download, Streaming
YEAR: 2020
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

LINEUP: Roger Joseph Manning Jr. – vocals, keyboards * Eric Dover – vocals, guitar * Tim Smith – vocals, bass * Jeremy Stacey – drums

TRACK LISTING: 01 Fadoodle * 02 Bluebird’s Blues * 03 There Is A Magic Number * 04 Lighthouse Spaceship

WEBLINKS: Site Link | FB Page

Background

The Lickerish Quartet deliver an EP which is as close as we are going to get to a Jellyfish reunion. There’s no Andy Sturmer, he’s been MIA for quite some time apart from writing tunes for some Japanese Anime/Pop crossover Puffy Ami Yumi.

What we do have here though are three of the band members that recorded the quite brilliant, and highly influential ‘Spilt Milk’ album back in 1992, and they’ve carried on the Jellyfish tradition of creating a quite wonderful heady mix of 70’s influenced Psychedelic Pop/Rock under the handle of The Lickerish Quartet.

The Songs

‘Threesome Vol. 1’ is just a four-song EP, but what an EP! ‘Fadoodle’ starts it all off with echoes of Roxy Music‘s ‘Virginia Plain’, and comes across as a mixture of campy British Glam, and Psychedelia, and topped off with some wonderfully silly lyrics.

‘Bluebird’s Blues’ has an air of classic 10cc about it with its layered harmonies, but also with a hint of The Beatles in there as well in terms of the song arrangement. This is a more laid back track as opposed to the jaunty trip of the opener, but both songs lay bare the bands influences.

‘There Is A Magic Number’, is different again and draws on the sounds of the likes of the Eagles with its cool country rock vibe, and is a superb dreamy number with a suitably lush production.

The best has been left until last. ‘Lighthouse Spaceship’ is an epic in every sense of the word. Six and a half minutes of glorious Psychedelic Prog-Pop, which draws heavily on the classic Jellyfish sound, but then some.

With its Queen like harmonies and an ambitious arrangement that the likes of Lennon and McCartney would be proud of, and also something that would not seem out of place on ‘Spilt Milk’, yes, it’s that good!

In Summary

The legend that is Jellyfish has grown over the years leaving one hell of a legacy to live up to. Roger Joseph Manning Jr. has, in the past come very to matching that with his solo albums, but it’s with this release that is truly that legacy’s rightful successor.

As the title implies this is just the first chapter from The Lickerish Quartet. There are apparently two more to follow and it’s promised that they will all be very different in style to one another. I, for one can’t wait, this is a nailed on inclusion for my ‘best of’ end of year list.

Video

Lighthouse Spaceship