Formerly prime mover in Celtic metal-bashers the Nyah Fearties, Mr Luggs has thanks to ‘public’ demand’ decided to compile his best work together following several albums which were, we’re told, heavy on the ‘filler’. You’d be forgiven for wondering quite what this means on hearing opener ‘Daffy Duck’ which apart from being a ramble through a roughly played and recorded banjo tune, seems to consist solely of hysterical laughter and mumbling. Humour is clearly the aim on many of the 18? tracks here – “Dinnae let your roof go mouldy, you’ll get pleurisy” he cackles on ‘Happy In My Hut’.
Musically it’s what you’d expect if your hillwalking expedition ended up in a bothy on a moor in Galloway – expect Mr Luggs to confront you, mad-eyed and bellowing manically. ‘Neepy Heeds’ is closest to the Fearties’ ‘industrial’ leanings, a folk-inspired mess of noise, while ‘Pick Your Eyes’ features an effectively spooky disembodied female vocal, but coupled with a manic bit of dub which could have been recorded in King Tubby’s kitchen.
With many whimsical and short pieces akin to Ivor Cutler it’s clearly one for the Luggs completist, but I’m unsure if even die-hard Fearties fans would appreciate this as apart from the mammoth ‘Music Magique’ at the end of the CD, the most dangerous thing about this album is the sandpaper cover.
