Don't all sneeze at once!
'Pollen' is intense and energetic enough to justify this Alt.-rocking quartet's comparison to Muse. 'Release me from the contract' sings the frontman singer/ guitarist Paul Isaac, as though these guys - who were originally from Hampshire's Andover, but who are now living in and playing from their London base - don't want a major record deal, boom-boom! Seriously though, this single rocks and is kindly blessed by its lo-fi lulls and distorted vocals.
Having said that, the two b-sides are by far more intriguing and frankly better songs, the first being 'Haunted House' which is much more soulful, tuneful, awesomely chorus-based and perfectly-paced to allow the incredible voice of young Mr. Isaac to gleam the brightest of brownie points on admitting to all, 'I can't tolerate these things.'
The final track in 'Safety in Numbness' is even better than that, and as sleuthfully as subtle as heaven. A touching acoustic number and far removed from the guitar riffing of Book Harrison's title track, the soft-spoken vox will strain the ears to such an extent your eyes could pop out, as this ground-breakingly exquisite lullaby reminds of the Goo Goo Dolls' 'Iris' and builds from its lo-fi beginnings into an entrancing soundscape of hugely original wonderment which is so damn impressing that I would seriously love to Book Harrison.
To play my wedding. Whenever that maybe. 8/10 (Steve Rudd)
Release Date: October 20th 2003.
www.bookharrison.co.uk
www.revolutionrecords.co.uk