Album #148: Chemtrails – The Peculiar Smell of the Inevitable

• Released: 2020
• Origin: Manchester, England
• Label: PNKSLM
• Best Track: Uncanny Valley

As soon as I put opening track ‘Blurred Visions’ on, I knew I was in for a pretty weird 36 minutes. Chemtrails’ second album The Peculiar Smell of the Inevitable is bonkers, and as such, highly enjoyable.

The cartoon-like vocals, the frequent use of the somewhat comical 2/2 time signature, the odd bursts of surf and psychedelia. It’s all a little unhinged, but adds up to a refreshing concoction unlike anything I’ve heard before.

The closest I can come up with as a comparison is the madcap stylings of the B-52s, but songs like ‘Suck My Mind’ almost sound like something The Coral might produce if they spend all day on a merry-go-round, dizzy on candyfloss and sugary pop.

Give ‘Uncanny Valley’ a go to get an idea of what they’re all about (if you don’t know what the title refers to, that in itself is a fascinating phenomena). If you can stomach it, the main course of the full album awaits.