The Chemistry Set - 2025 - An Introduction To

(156:26; Fruits de Mer Records)

Track list:
1. Silver Birch [Phased Version] 5:18
2. Time to Breathe 6:11
3 Come Kiss Me Vibrate and Smile 3:02
4 Elapsed Memories 5:35
5 A Cure for the Inflicted Afflicted 3:55
6 Love or Confusion 4:12
7 Lovely Cuppa Tea 4:13
8 The Rubicon 3:08
9 Legend of a Mind 6:34
10 Firefly 4:10
11 Sail Away 4:09
12 Paint Me a Dream 3:51
13 The Witch 5:11
14 Dear Mr Fantasy 4:54
15 Faintly Blowing 5:32
16 The Witch 138 [Remix] 8:48
17. She's Taking Me Down 4:34
18. The World Is Hollow and I Touched the Sky 5:57
19. If Rome Was Meant to Fall 3:47
20. This Day Will Never Happen Again 2:15
21. We Live as We Dream Alone 4:18
22. Crawling Back to You 3:24
23. The Fountains of Neptune 3:51
24. The Open Window 6:14
25. Albert Hoffman 5:13
26. Winter Sun 3:15
27. The Splendour of the Universe 6:01
28. International Rescue 3:19
29. The Canyon of the Crescent Moon 4:24
30. Pink Felt Trip 3:25
31. Psychotronic Man 6:30
32. Self-Expression Trinity 11:16

Line-up:
Not stated


Prolusion.
UK band The Chemistry Set can trace their history back to the second half of the 1980s, and while the band hasn't been an active entity for the entire period from then until 2025 they still have an impressive array of material that has been released. 54 titles in total, counting all and sundry, according to the label Fruits de Mer Records. So when the aforementioned label released the double CD compilation "An Introduction To" this spring, the name of the compilation is a very apt one indeed. As this is a band that have so much more material in their backlog that this double CD is, in fact, only an introduction.

Analysis.
This is a band that know their way around most aspects of psychedelic rock, and they showcase their width, breadth and depth in that department most beautifully on the tracks selected for this compilation. They are fond of The Beatles and The Kinks, and in the vocals as well as in many of the melody lines we find traces of both of those bands. Perhaps with the edgier sound of The Kinks being more prevalent in the arrangements while the melodies themselves, the vocals and the song structure may perhaps be a bit closer to The Beatles for the material that cover those bases.

These folks also know their way around a darker toned, edgier display of a more dramatic character. Cue the garage rock expression. Songs where the organ may play a more central role, the guitars are darker toned, dirtier and edgier, and while still often upbeat and uplifting there is a bit of a darker and edgier undercurrent to many of these exploits, and often with vocal sensibilities that come with slightly different associations. With a certain Liverpool band again a point of reference here.

In addition we have the songs revolving around a stronger folk music and world music influx. where the sitar and the acoustic guitar have more important parts to play, and creations that by plan or accident come with a little bit of a US sounding tinge to them. More often than not otherworldly affairs on some level or other.

There are also some tripper excursions here. Dreamladen affairs where the Mellotron comes out to play and other types of dreamladen and cosmic landscapes unfold. Compositions where the reverbs and psychedelic impact effects are given a leading role in territories clearly not quite of this Earth and this time.

Besides these more general tendencies in different directions, many of the compositions here will obviously combine one or more elements from the handful of different directions outlined. And some will come with their own little twists and turns that are just a  bit outside of the scope of the general orientations described too, of course.

What makes this band an interesting one, and this compilation such a joyful experience, at least in my book, is how this is clearly music explored and provided by a single band. There are some strong identity markers at hand here, cue the already mentioned vocals as an example, that makes these songs come across as very much a unified experience despite the at times vast differences in sound, expression and even orientation.

The PR for this release states that the material on this compilation represents the band's personal favorites and the songs they think are their very best. While I haven't listened to all that much of their past material, I can at least safely state that my impression about this selection is that the material is most solid indeed. With plenty of songs I'd place in the excellent department.

Conclusion.
If you have a passion for psychedelic rock, garage rock and music of a similar kind, stature and nature of the kind that was explored in the late 1960s and early 1970s, The Chemistry Set is a band you need to be aware of and a band that should be on your list of artists that merits a listen. If you can get hold of a copy of this limited edition double CD compilation then this is a very good place to start out exploring what this band has to offer. This is a very strong compilation indeed, with a liberal amount of captivating and enthralling experiences for those who enjoy their vintage era psychedelic rock in several different guises.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, May 2025

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/TheChemistrySetUK/
https://www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/