Three mid-period albums from U.K. psych/pop grey eminence Nick Saloman get the deluxe reissue treatment in two-LP/two-CD packaging. Salomon released these records between 1993 and 1995 on his own Woronzow label following a short stint on Reckless, and—especially on It Just Is, on which he plays every instrument—you can hear him following his spacey, fuzzed-out muse wherever it leads him. Sprawl is a slightly darker outing, and a slightly more focused one, perhaps due to the presence of other contributors (including drummer Andy Ward, whose strong percussion provides Saloman with solid footing even as his head rises into the clouds).
Both are fine, accomplished Bevis Frond records, but it’s Superseeder that’s the real standout. It’s a gorgeous, wildly eclectic collection on which no song is less than a knockout, and several (the wry “Sue Me,” the aching “Could Be,” the heroically silly “Flashy”) showcase Saloman’s natural songwriting talent at its fearless, liberated, tuneful best.
—Eric Waggoner
