Swilson – Demonology

Obscurely pitched as 'satanic psychedelic loner rock,' Swilson is certainly an enigmatic entity, with pictures of the band being virtually impossible to come by and their videos clearly being a re-assemblage of old B-movies. Musically it’s no easier to pin down; the up-tempo, punkier numbers invite comparisons with a zanier White Stripes and much of the rest recalls the tripped-out, playful, retro goofiness of Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Indeed, Demonology sends images of a tongue-in-cheek 60s flick with leopard-print swimsuits, rubber aliens and endearingly bad special effects swirling through the listener's mind. Lead single Polyester Shirt Polyester Pants! is a skittish and energetic introduction matched for enthusiasm only by White Witch Black Witch both peppered with hints of psycho-billy sneering and the brief, throw-away nature of the songs like Rats With Wings mirrors the uncomplicated good humour of Guided by Voices were they zapped backwards in time to one of Warhol's sillier pre-Velvets parties.