Written in tribute to an instrument that lead singer, Jack McEwan received from his grandfather, 'Bill’s Mandolin' paints a picture of the crazy escapades the band and their mandolin mascot undertook on their previous tours.

The track explodes into a rolling, swagger-stuffed soundscape: bass thudding, guitar riffs rolling, and fun, folky vocals bouncing atop. Once again, the 'Crumpets manage to fashion a beautifully blended chorus of coarse, crunching guitar, instilling a kind of dazed wonder in the listener.

This track harks back to the true spiritual heart of the wonderfully wacky band: having a f*cking good time. Whimsical lyrics and free-flying guitar lines help, in close tandem, to construct an ebullient, yet nonchalant style that’s shamelessly addictive. This airiness mustn’t be conflated with the band’s attitude to musicianship, however, as the instrumentation, timing and wit of each member are razor sharp, making a live Psychedelic Porn Crumpets experience every part as captivating and the crisp as their recordings promise.

'Bill’s Mandolin' really feels like a declaration of self; the band have managed, in this track, to hit their style directly and firmly on the head. The track shares the intoxicating restlessness of ‘Ergophobia’ and ‘Cubensis Lensis’ from their preceding LPs, mashing it together with the psychedelic stasis of tracks like ‘Denmark/Van Gogh and Gone’ and ‘Gallop to Southport’.

‍'Bill’s Mandolin' is the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets track that we’ve needed for so long, and that in itself injects another ingredient into an already exhilarating listening experience: anticipation. This track is one of four singles released by the ‘Crumpets in preparation for their release of their third action-packed LP, And Now For the Whatchamacallit; to be let loose upon us 31/05/19.

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Photo credit: Sam Hesketh