The Junipers are a Leicester-based psychedelic pop band formed in 2000, who are heavily inspired by 1960's acts like The Zombies and The Beach Boys, with their lush, neo-psychedelic sound featuring intricate vocal harmonies, vintage Mellotrons, banjos, and heavily effected pianos. The band was originally formed as a studio project by Joe Wiltshire, Marc Johnston, Pete Gough, Liam Riley, and Stuart Pratt, and operating out of their own Leicester studio, they signed to San Remo Records and released their self-produced, critically acclaimed debut LP 'Cut Your Key' in 2008. This spawned the single 'Callooh Callay!', which earned single of the week on BBC Radio 2. Following a few line-up changes, including the replacement of original vocalist Marc Johnston by Robyn Gibson, and the departure of bassist Liam Riley and drummer Stuart Pratt, who were replaced by Ash Seldon and Ben Marshall respectively, the band released 'Paint The Ground' in 2012. This was the first of a steady flow of releases on a number of indie labels, including 2016's 'Red Bouquet Fair' on Sugarbush Records, 2024's 'Imaginary Friends' on Cuckoo Records, and this year's well-received 'The Solid And The Hollow' album. In 2013 the band also released a four-song EP by their side project, the Junipers' Euphonious Trolley, but despite this impressive catalogue of music, the band are still an unknown quantity for most people, and so I hope that this selection of some of their best work from the last 18 years will bring them to the attention of the wider public.
Track listing
01 Look Into My River (from 'Paint The Ground' 2013)
02 Red Bouquet Fair (from 'Red Bouquet Fair' 2016)
03 Gordie Can't Swim (from 'Cut Your Key' 2008)
04 Willow And The Water Mill (from 'Paint The Ground' 2013)
05 Annie Almond (from 'Imaginary Friends' 2024)
06 When She Turns (from 'The Solid And The Hollow' 2026)
07 Callooh Callay! (from 'Cut Your Key' 2008)
08 Golden Fields In Golden Sun (from 'Paint The Ground' 2013)
09 Like A Merry Go Round (from 'Red Bouquet Fair' 2016)
10 Where I'm Landing (from 'The Solid And The Hollow' 2026)
11 Out My Pocket (from 'Cut Your Key' 2008)
12 Hollow Sky (from 'Imaginary Friends' 2024)
13 Burning Pages (from 'Red Bouquet Fair' 2016)
14 Song To Selkie (from 'Paint The Ground' 2013)
15 She Looked Up At The Stars (from 'Imaginary Friends' 2024)
16 Mortimer (from 'Cut Your Key' 2008)
17 Follow Loretta (from 'Red Bouquet Fair' 2016)
18 Fishes (from 'The Solid And The Hollow' 2026)
19 Dandelion Man (from 'Paint The Ground' 2013)
Wow! Just listened through the album: You have compiled a gem for us here! Thanks so much. I love neo-psychedelia, and this really works.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I can no longer access your files. Just like before.....might be on my side though!
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