“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble”…

As one of apparently only 7% of the UK population with veins anointed with O Rh-ve, midges and mosquitos tend to regard this blood with envious eyes – singled out like caviar or Dom Pérignon, from the dull palatable herd.

Whether or not Sarah’s Green Witch concoctive brew of yesterday had warded off these bloodthirsty flying miscreants or not, we took no chances and liberally doused ourselves again with; 11 drops Lavender Oil, 10 drops Lemon Oil, 10 drops Lemongrass Oil, 3 drops Tea Tree Oil, Topped up to 15ml with Rose Water for spraying or mixed in with small tub of cream for lotion – we came home with no bites whatsoever, so patent pending!

Back in January as part of a Featured Artist profile on the band Helicon, I reviewed the digital release of their latest EP ‘Gehenna’. Thursday 23rd April sees the highly anticipated vinyl release through EXAG Records, whose press release states as follows;

“We’re glad to announce that Helicon (UK) recently record their 8th EP. On the past year, the psychedelic 5 piece band, performed shows in Europe, including dates with Dead Skeletons, The Warlocks, The Black Ryder, Dead Meadow, The Underground Youth and many more. The EP’ll be available (in digital and vinyl limited edition of 300 copies) for both mainland Europe and the UK this Thursday 23 of April”.

Somewhere back in July, Purple Heart Parade connected me with Helicon and I was immediately smitten with these self-proclaimed, “Doom-mongering behemoths of Psychedelic Rock formed in East Kilbride / Glasgow”.

These particular behemoths must have come from the cheerier side of the doom-mongering clan, because when I listen to the euphonious sounds they shape, I feel revitalised and up for anything.

Helicon are also one of those bands for me, that when you delved into their back catalogue – the only surprise there was, was just how consistently fucking good it all was. Here was a band who had found their niche and who were methodically teasing every ounce of gold dust from it, not spilling or squandering one single speck of it.