Released during bh one’s downtime, Muddy Miles’ debut long-player (only five tracks but comes in at a lengthy 30+ minutes) has been an ever-present in and around my cd player for the last few months. Abacus Cactus was recorded at Uncle Pablos Studios, apparently “no computers were used during the making of the record” and if my memory serves me correctly from a three-month old conversation, only analog equipment was used. Muddy Miles aren’t ones for gadgetry or fancy technical noodling in the studio, unlike it seems, the band who this sounds most like.

Before I go overboard on simply gushing praise about Muddy Miles, there are one or two things that keep my eulogising in check. The first track ‘Remember A Tomorrow’ is an average opener; it’s a quick hit, a short shot of what’s to follow and really isn’t on a par with the other four tracks. Secondly, and this may be a tad harsh, but the songs sound like they were recorded in the seventies. Okay, this is not necessarily a bad thing, and clearly the band (using analog equipment) wanted an authentic vintage sound to the songs, but listening to this alongside digital recordings, it lacks some clarity and definition.

Right, those negatives out of the way, I can say that the other four tracks are quite magnificent. Wonderfully heavy, mellow and beautifully groovy, psychedelic overtones throughout – Pink Floyd’s film Live At Pompeii has exactly the same feel, and those guys playing in that auditorium blow me away. ‘How About A Nice Cup Of Tea’ is a glorious ten minute jam. I’ve heard a few people criticise the band for the one thing I like most about them; their ability to improvise, to just play, to not keep to a song’s structure and just to play what they feel. This song feels exactly like that. Some find it dull, that there are no clear verses or choruses and that Goobie can just play a couple of notes for ten minutes whilst Tariqur keeps the groove steady and Tom (who for a man of such tender years has quite amazing ability) keeps perfect rhythm, playing elaborately but wonderfully controlled. The first time these guys played with bh one at The Gander I clearly remember Tom arriving at 6pm tapping out rhythms on beer-soaked tables, and from that time until when he left at midnight his sticks never left his hands, every now and again spinning them between his fingers, never dropping them. I swear he sleeps with them.

‘Tarantula’ is a live favourite, often extended from the five minutes here to twice or three time that length. After a simple opening riff and a beautifully calm first three minutes with Goobie dreaming “I am a tarantula… oooooh, call me whatever you want” the remainder is simply three guys jamming. Heavily. Whether that last twenty minutes or (as with this recording) two minutes depends I guess on how they feel at the time. I’d have liked longer for this recording as it reeks brilliantly of Rust-era Neil Young, quite simply I could listen to this track for thirty minutes and not want it to finish. ‘Pebble In My Pocket’ is far more introspective, lyrically and musically. It’s subtlety is something not often seen with their live shows, but this is just a slice of heaven, five minutes of ethereal beauty. Listen to this song before you sleep and you will soon dream with a smile on your face. ‘Waters’ is another live killer, and is (in essence) and extended version of ‘Tarantula’. Gentle psychedelic screeches and simple fills rumble along for four minutes (Muddy Miles can make so little sound so amazing), before the volume is raised and the mellow groove becomes gloriously heavy, this time lasting five minutes and veering off into feedback and fx before simmering down to slumber.

There is so much to love about Muddy Miles; their live shows are unmissable and three more humble and gentle men you’ll go a long way to find. If you love music that takes your mind away to another place, that you can lose yourself in, finding yourself afterwards in a better place, you’ll love Abacus Cactus. Oh… no mind altering substances of any type were used during the making of this record. Just say no, kids.

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