Gorky's Zygotic Mynci: The Blue Trees : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

With their fondness for period instruments and singing in Welsh, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci come across like electrified druids. Despite -- or rather because of -- their singular sound, there was slim hope of squeezing them onto a chart overrun with Korn Bizkits and babyfaced boy bands, and they were unceremoniously dropped by their label a couple of years ago after only three albums. Undeterred and unfettered, Gorky's trucked on with 1999's Spanish Dance Troupe and a couple of "Mynci 2000" tours that featured the band opening their shows with an acoustic set. The Blue Trees grew out of those intimate performances. "Pastoral" is word that gets thrown around a lot when trying to translate Gorky's sound for American ears, for good reason. Centered around lilting acoustic guitars with only the sparest of accompaniment, songs like "The Summer's Been Good From the Start" and the instrumental title track feel like offerings from some great, global countryside. A porch-front rendition of "Fresher Than the Sweetness In Water" -- originally done by Sixties Britpop obscurities the Honeybus -- is an unexpected gem. The Blue Trees won't break Gorky's Zygotic Mynci beyond their already fervent cult audience, but it would be shame to miss out on its winsome charms. (MICHAEL ANSALDO)