Soft Hearted Scientists' latest album 'The Phantom Of Canton' demanded to be released on vinyl, but we had to wait until we could offer something more than a straight 12" version of the CD.

Fortunately, now we can - an extended 3LP set, including a sidelong reprise of the album and a side of instrumental versions.

Nathan Hall describes the original album...

"...loosely speaking, a psychedelia infused concept album of sorts, dealing with themes such as alienation, lost love, and the sometimes high personal price of obsessively pursuing creative projects, or indeed any job or calling.

However, it is often very upbeat and hopeful, even joyful, and acknowledges that the highs outweigh the lows and that the protagonist wouldn’t really have it any other way. Yes there are times of reflecting how life might have been different, but unravelling all life choices is rather pointless.

'The Phantom of Canton' is universal and is anybody who has felt a sense of identity loss during times of crisis, like a ghost on the sidelines with life passing them by, but also anyone who has then experienced the immense rush of joy felt when things get back on track.

Musically this might be the band’s most ambitious yet. Even the darker songs are painted in bright colours and infused with an hallucinatory element. Electric and acoustic guitars and a vast range of keyboards and sound effects and sound events illuminate the lyrics.

Influences include 1940s big band music, 1950s doo wop and rock and roll, 1960s psychedelia and folk rock, early 1970s prog rock, punk, post punk, electronic music and sound track music"

Fruits de Mer's 3LP set spreads the original album across four sides of vinyl and adds a sidelong 'suite' put together by Nathan and producer Frank Naughton that picks up on the themes of the individual tracks, together with another side of instrumental mixes.


'I Don't Hear A Single' reviewed the CD...

It is often frustrating that for much of my I Don't Hear A Single life, I have trouble understanding why certain bands are not massive. If this was anytime between 1969 and 1976, you would have needed many trucks to deliver Soft Hearted Scientist to the eagerly awaiting Record Shops.
Of course, we live in different times, pennies for 100 song plays, but the physical has always been key for songwriter, vocalist and multi instrumentalist, Nathan Hall throughout his career. Here the Cardiff five piece keep a 16 track double album to 77 minutes to allow a release on a single CD...the band are noted Psych Pop magicians, but they are much more than that; songs are beautifully arranged soundscapes, Hall's gentle vocal is surrounded by arrangements that are of the highest quality, offering depth and melody, at times pastoral. They are also capable of great Pop. 'Wonder Girl' is a Toytown joy of a pop song and 'Hello, Hello' is pure Jangle.

The Psych is restrained and ventures into Prog never lose the plot. They are equally great at short songs as well as the extended...the longer songs work well as always, The Canyon approaches 12 minutes and amongst the Prog is a delightful Piano Pop accompaniment...Soft Hearted Scientists are a band that know what they are about, but constantly look for change, melody is always the key.

More news soon

if you're not already on our mailing-list, it's time to join or you might well miss out - click on the 'mailing-lists' link at the top of the page