The nature of Rock is that it sometimes comes seeping out of the most unlikely places. Sonic Assassin member Rauky leads the three-piece from southern France with the funny name. Southern France is a great place to visit but hasn’t been renowned for Rock Action since Keef and Co copped the eviction notice back in the early ‘70s. This disc makes us wonder if we’re getting out enough (air fares to Europe will be gratefully accepted). 

Little Green Fairy throws out enough feedback and wah-wah on the opening track, “Lobotomy For Ever”, to underline that this is no ordinary fairy story. These are psychedelic-tinged excursions into hard-edged rock-pop. It’s a mixed bag, but it’s rarely boring. Most Bar patrons will find something worthy here.

Occasional Bar reviewer Laurent Van Bouvelen hipped us to the LGF a couple of years ago. He rated their live show as something special and occasional reports form others have said nothing to the contrary. Rauky, drummer Clarisse and second guitarist La Mouche (why do French musos always have enigmatic names?) mostly do without a bass player. One guitarist usually lays down a solid foundation while the other flies off into the ether. Clarisse is rock solid behind the traps, driving the beat without filling every possible hole.

“Choose Your Real Style” is a blast of catchy rock-pop that recalls Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters without the sharp edges filed off. It stops abruptly, resurrects itself as a Beefheart afterthought, and then morphs back into its original form. Its brother is a cut called “I Wish (You Bite the Dust)” that appears later on the disc.

There’s a quirky cover of Creedence’s “Bad Moon Rising” that begs no-one’s indulgence as it does its business in just over two minutes and pisses off. “The Onlything” is a bracing bit of straight-up rock and roll. “Hippy Girls (You Are All Smell So Go to Hell)” wins best title, hands down, but isn’t that memorable.

The closing “No Lies” features guest vocalist Jo Lebb (Jo’s a he) and bassist Marc Hacquet (a Kevin K collaborator, I think) and is curiously out of place. It shapes as a piece of American Midwest heartland rock, before some arresting La Mouche and Rauky guitarwork kicks it clear of Springsteenland.

1/4