Grandma Sparrow & His Piddletractor Orchestra
Grandma Sparrow

Reviewed by BravoMarco

Is this some sort of surreal childish nightmare or is it a joyous dream? Grandma Sparrow is the modern take on the classic kids entertainment of Punch & Judy. A whole host of instruments: horns, electronica & many effects. Strange, clean fun, all wrapped up in a psychedelic haze. Most of these tracks take longer to name than the actual ditties themselves. All are just about interesting enough to play – Will bring either smiles or disparaging shakes of the head from listeners.

FCC’s *4? Rest OK

1) Invocation: Is That You? (0.29) Starts us off with an effected haze.
2) The Piddletractor Welcome Anthem (3.11) Pleasant 60’s style happiness introducing the band & welcoming all the children listeners…Munchkins add to the revelry.
3) Grandma’s Song For You (1.27) Happy Happy Joy Joy – Umba Lumpa merriment…
4) Presenting: Alewishus, The Clown Prince Of Piddletractor (1.50) Not sure if “took a dump & throwing it across the pond” is an FCC – That Alewishus is a naughty boy.
5) This Is My Wheelhouse (2.16) Back to those hazy lazy summer days of hippydom.
6) Shhh!!! Tiptoe Past The Oryoman! (1.11) Bird song & talking over a nice beat.
7) Do You Know Who Your Scrimpa Is? (1.06) Horns playing along with vocals in this disjointed 66 seconds.
8) A Window Of Happy rhymes: A) Where Is My Daddy Longlegs? (0.33) Spoken word & then a musical outburst.
9) Existential Mothersnakes (4.55) Operatic beginning then an almost upbeat folky approach – Nice horn section. Goes all backwards / experimental towards the end.
10) Story Time: A) Grandma’s Pants B) Scrimpa Joins Tinkleminus In His Search For Alewishus C) the Bark Commissioner’s Lunchbox (1.11) Humorous enough version of the muffin man & then nonsensical chatter.
11) Scavenger Hunt: Find The Squirnkey! (2.04) Slow & dark with broody vocals, Neofolk-esque – The highlight.
12) The Pigsmilk Candycane (3.21) Military drum role alongside old timey vocals. Like a commercial for some 1940’s product - With flushing toilet effects.
13) Nap Time: Twelve-Tone Lullaby (2.05) Snoring in the background.
14) Alew’s Dream: A True Piddlean Adventure: A) Dream, Dream Away B) Oh, What A Day We Have Braught Us C) Lost Inside The Nothing Messages D) Peel The Showers (Awaken!)(5.03) Like a dream sequence, Star Track like warbling at first, then it all goes off in different directions. The voices, the horns, it’s all on this track.
15) The Farewell Bolero (2.50) Slowing it right down – It’s all in the title.