The Psychedelic Aliens – Psycho African Beat

The band was known in 1970, when they recorded their barn-burning debut single, as The Psychedelic Alliens (with a double L). The following year saw the release of two more singles under the moniker The Magic Aliens.

A good example of form over substance. This 4 x 7" box set looks fabulous. When I saw it in the record shop I thought "gotta have it". The price was an eye-watering £40+. Bear in mind this is four 7" singles we're talking about. If you discovered this thing for £10 in a sale or 2nd hand shop then you would indeed have a great bargain and be highly delighted. The music fairly swings and there's kind-of glimpses of an almost psych-ish style (if you squint). But its really just standard afro-pop as far as I'm concerned. In their haste to label anything with a fuzz guitar or swirling organ 'psych' (or anything with wah-wah guitar 'funk') the compilers of these type of records over-hype their product in my opinion. The booklet is good, the patch is... erm.... a patch (I bet that's where at least £5 of the cost went)... but really it's just eight fairly standard afro-pop tunes (in a box).