Dr Strangely Strange: Heavy Petting and Other Proclivities – review

Thanks to the alt-folk revival, even lesser-known 70s psychedelic folk-rockers are back in fashion. Dr Strangely Strange were Ireland's answer to the Incredible String Band, a delightfully quirky outfit whose vinyl releases have become collectors' items – and rightly so. Now digitally remastered, and with out-takes and live tracks added in, this set was originally released in 1970, and includes fine, fluid early guitar solos from the great Gary Moore, then a teenager. The songs match surreal lyrics against an engagingly bizarre kaleidoscope of styles; Moore's blues-rock is intercut with ragtime, country (including a burst of the Patti Page favourite, Tennessee Waltz), acoustic traditional and medieval styles, along with church music and carols, with Jove Was at Home suddenly segueing into a triumphant Gloria, Hosanna in Excelsis. There is also inventive vocal harmony work – which sounded particularly impressive when the now-expanded trio relaunched the album in London this week.