Artist description Farfisa organs, fuzzed guitars, piccolo trumpets, and Indian instruments abound. Fans of psychedelic pop from the likes of Pet Sounds/Smile-era Beach Boys, Sgt. Pepper, The Turtles, The Stone's 'Their Satanic Majesties Request,' and even Leonard Cohen will enjoy. Luscious pop vocal harmonies fused with buzz saw guitars take the listener through a hallucinogenic bubble gum stereo landscape. Pure head candy.

Music Style Alternative, Pop Rock

Musical Influences Beach Boys, Beatles, Who, Turltes, Zappa, Monkees, High Llamas, Monkees, Guru Guru, Dave Allen

Similar Artists Beach Boys, Beatles, Who, Turltes, Zappa, Monkees, High Llamas,

Group Members Ellis Clark and Tom Clark

Instruments Anything Available

Press Reviews Magnet Magazine - While brothers Ellis and Tom Clark -- the heart and soul of the Chicago-based Epicycle -- raid the past with respect, they're not afraid to add tongue-in-cheek humor in paying homage to their influences. For example, "Pleasant Valley Sequel" picks up where the Monkees left off on "Pleasant Valley Sunday." As Ellis Clark sings, "The kids are out doing bongs/And daddy's in the bathroom trying momma's dresses on/The local rock group gave it up and they're into Hare Krishna!" Band members use a variety of instruments -- theremin, trumpet, bongos -- in creating their wily psychedelic pop sound. The Clark boys are at their best when they borrow templates created by the likes of Brian Wilson and John Lennon. (Or even the Turtles, as heard on their variation of "Lady-O.") The standout track here is "Brian (Hello High Llamas)," a salute to two of Epicycle's favorites. It's a surreal number that will leave a (smiley) smile on your face. In further testament to the band's affinity for the past, Epicycle also released Orange on eight-track. The Big Take-Over Issue No. 42 Even if this Chicago group didn't have a song entitled "Brian (Hello High Llamas)," its debut LP hints that these folks are enamored by both the last remaining Wilson brother (Dennis and Carl R.I.P.), and his remarkable '66-'69 run so endlessly, painstakingly translated into modern studios by the newer group. But unlike the Llamas, this is no homage: More like U.K. eccentric Martin Newell (Cleaners from Venus, Brotherhood of Lizards), and especially Newell's recent LP collaborations with XTC's Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory, Epicycle play with the style of that whole period without donning anyone's clothes (except the Sgt. Pepper-like psychedelic garb and Blues Brothers sunglasses the members wear on this back sleeve!). They produce a lush, ringing sound, but there's no Christmas bells or long airy, slow Wilsonesque passages. And there's humor, like "Weslie Willus," which turns the tables on the sanity-challenged troubadour (spelled differently), whose songs are similarly named after other performers -- and dig the gorgeous string bed underneath it! There's even a sweet bossanova rhythm on the also clever "Tortured Artist Song." No, this is no tribute: There's an acoustic lightness and careful picking at work here, with a '60s "poptopia" melodic style and production economy. Bless 'em, it's nice. Amplifier Magazine Vol. 3. No 2. Brothers Ellis Clark (songs, vocals, guitars, bass) and Tom Clark (more songs, drums, keyboards) are Epicycle, who pay props to everyone kitsch from Ed Wood to the Turtles. If ever a record should have come with a lava lamp and some mind-altering materials, this is it. Get through the oddball Sniff 'n' the Tears affections on "The Fat Girl's Gonna Dance Naked" (really!) and you're in for a rollercoaster ride through Bongland. Theramin nightmares revolve around "Pleasant Valley Sequel" -- yes, it's what you think it's about -- and "Crystal Clear" conjures up old Traffic riffs reborn in pop glory. Talented enough to not take themselves seriously and both lampoon and pay tribute to the genre, songs like the hilarious "Tortured Artist Song" and "Wesley Willus" (misspelled so the bus loon can't sue?) have to be heard to be believed. And just like the spiritual predecessors the Durocs, check out their dead-on loving cover of "Lady-O" to see where their hearts lie. Don't judge this book by its goofy cover -- this is one smart record. INTHEMIX November '98Orange is a splash of trippy-jazzy-funky, twisted poetry and painterly pop music. Epicycle is Tom and Ellis Clark, two ultra-talented baritone songwriters with profound instrumental prowess and a savvy fashion sense. Orange is like Poi Dog meets Crash Test Dummies while hanging out in Timbuk 3 playing all their best Beatles on drugs albums! I say this even though I don't believe the popular music of the late sixties was ever this much fun, nor was it anywhere near as good as the stuff on this disc.Tom plays drums, percussion and keyboards and vocals. Ellis provides vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, percussion and work on the lowery organ. Epicycle also gets help from host of other talented musicians that appear throughout the disc. The influences include just about everything under the musical sun including salsa, jazz, funk, punk, a smidgen of glam (I know it's there, I swear it is), pop, rock and spy theme music. These twelve songs knit together to create a stellar whole, with my favorites including "The Fat Girls Gonna' Dance Naked," "Weslie Willus," "I Could Have Had It All," "Tortured Artist Song," "Pleasant Valley Sequel," "Crystal Clear," and "Brian (Hello High Llamas)." Most of these songs have a sense of humor and all of them have an attention to detail that will leave you finding new things in the music for years to come. It's like caramel coated surprises with popcorn and a peanut inside!

Location Chicago, IL - USA

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