The fact that the Stranglies were Dublin-based, friends of The Incredible String Band and managed and produced by Joe Boyd should be enough to allow you, in your mind’s ear, to hear them. Thankfully, however, it’s not that simple. The title of the opener, Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal explains some of their everlasting charm and deserved cult status, for this album is a rich and rewarding mix of both. Dr Dim & Dr Strange underlines their debt to The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter but, on tracks such as Roy Rogers, they are more oddly normal, more approachable than the ISB.
Their song structures often belie the homely, but nevertheless very genuine weirdness of the lyrics – just listen to On The Westcork Hack for evidence.The variety in their playing and instrumentation, the Stranglies’ love of counterpoint and, above all, the sheer fun in the songs makes Kip… a sheer joy from start to finish. Highly recommended and oddly
catchy.
by Jan Zarebski, 28 March 2009
Tracks
1. Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal (Ivan Pawle) - 4:28
2. Dr. Dim And Dr. Strange (Tim Goulding) - 7:33
3. Roy Rogers (Tim Booth) - 5:37
4. Dark Haired Lady (Ivan Pawle) - 4:25
5. On The West Cork Hack (Tim Goulding) - 2:32
6. Tale Of Two Orphanages (Tim Booth) - 3:49
7. Strings In The Earth And Air (Ivan Pawle) - 6:38
8. Ship Of Fools (Tim Goulding) - 6:18
9. Frosty Mornings (Ivan Pawle) - 3:59
10.Donnybrook Fair (Tim Booth) - 8:48
11.Mirror Mirror (Ivan Pawle) - 4:39
12.West Cork Hack (Tim Goulding) - 3:11
13.Strings In The Earth And Air (Ivan Pawle) - 2:06
14.Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal (Ivan Pawle) - 5:59
Bonus Tracks 11-14 only on 2009 edition
Dr. Strangely Strange
*Ivan Pawle - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Whistle, Electric Guitar
*Tim Booth - Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Vocals
*Tim Goulding - Piano, Hammond Organ, One-String Fiddle, Electric Piano, Melodic, Whistle, Vocals
With
*Jay Myrdal – Glockenspiel
*Linus - Vocals, Percussion
