UK band JULY was a short-lived entity that existed from 1968 to 1969 originally, releasing two singles and a full length album before calling it a day back then. The band reformed a few years back however, and released their reunion album “Resurrection” in 2013. The single Can I Go Back Again features an extended version of one of the songs from that album, paired off with the demo version of this extended take on the B side, and was released through UK label Fruits de Mer Records in the early summer of 2016.

As a song in it’s own right this extended version isn’t among the most intriguing I have come across. It starts and stops a few times too many prior to reaching a more firm expression in the final third, and more often than not comes across as a cut searching for direction rather than a full fledged composition as such.

What the song does beautifully is to recreate the sounds of a lost era however. Gentle hovering keyboard details, plucked sitar details, sharp, acidy guitar solo motifs and vintage psychedelic style guitar riffs all come and go, and when the song eventually shifts into second and third gear it is to more of an old style rhythm and blues foundation from what I can tell, with the piano as a prominent instrument. The vocals are a bit shot, but their particular style and expression fits very well with the lyrical contents of this song and might have been slightly overdone for dramatic effect.

This extended version of the song isn’t a noteworthy experience in itself, regarded specifically as a song it isn’t really a memorable one nor a well developed one. But as a time piece and sonic journey back to the psychedelic era it works very well indeed, and those with a need to revisit the sounds of that time and know they will enjoy two times 6 minutes of nostalgic audio atmospheres should find this single to be well worth acquiring.

My rating: 60/100

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/JULY-239366944425/
https://www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/