Doug, Daryl & Dennis Dragon – three brothers – formed a band, hoping to break the California rock scene and turn it on it’s head. During the day, they surfed; the evenings, they played in the band; after the witching hour, they made use of studio down time, working on their first album until the dawn chorus beckoned. This being the late 1960’s, most record labels were looking for another Beatles or Rolling Stones clone, which, from their music, The Dragons evidently weren’t, meaning their debut LP never got a release. Fast forward the future. Ninja Tune’s Strictly Kev stumbles across their “Food For My Soul” which featured on old surf soundtrack, asks permission to include it on a Solid Steel mix, prompting Dennis Dragon to mention they have a full album of unreleased material if he’s interested. Which neatly closes the circle and brings to light an almost-lost album of playful delights that refuses to satisfy itself with one style or genre – yep, there’s a pleasing 60’s haze to it all, but The Dragons’ sound is happy to run sideways through funk, rock, oddball studio electronics, gospel, jazz and blues, culminating in one juiced up, crazy, sexy swirl of sound. Learn from The Dragons – never throw anything away, you never know where it might lead.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Darren Wall
