PAUL ROLAND ‘Lair of the White Worm’
“Paul Roland writes nice melodies and has a very particular personality, but he is too intellectual for me!" (Frank Zappa, 1988)
“Roland’s songs are like short stories set to music.” (Greg Lake)
After invoking the spirit of Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft and Dr John on his previous albums, Paul Roland now conjures up the ghost of Bram Stoker for his latest, ‘Lair of the White Worm’ which features contributions from Joran and Nico Steckelberg of German fantasy folk group Elane.
Stoker’s lurid gothic tale of a predatory woman who mutates into a snake is the basis for both the baroque acoustic title track AND the 11 minute prog-rock-psych-wig out extended reprise performed by the band who wowed hardcore heavy metal fans at the Metal Magic festival in Denmark in 2018. (“One of the top 5 performances in the 11 year history of our festival.”)
Other highlights include 3 songs on the theme of the 1664 London plague (prescient or what!) which opens the album and the more intimate acoustic tracks ‘Moonchild’ and ‘In Memory of a Time Traveller’ (which pays homage to Roland’s favourite fantasy author H. G. Wells novel ‘The Time Machine’).
More familiar Roland themes return with ‘Prophetess, Sybil and Seer’, ‘Bewitched’ and the wistful ghost ballad ‘Sister, Why Sit By The Window and Weep?” (which was written for Dave Cousins of The Strawbs, whom Paul met at the Bobbio festival in Italy a few years ago).
‘Lair of the White Worm’ is the 21st album from the man ‘Record Collector’ magazine called a ‘Psych-pop genius’ and whom ‘Shindig’ magazine celebrated with a 7-page feature in March last year under the title ‘Return of the King’.
Since the appearance of his first album ‘The Werewolf of London’ in 1980 (a John Peel favourite and a regular featured album at the legendary Bat Cave) Roland has written and recorded 20 albums including ‘A Cabinet of Curiosities’ which ‘Rolling Stone’ named “one of the best albums you’ve probably never heard”, the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired ‘Reanimator’ and ‘Bates Motel’ with songs written for surviving members of the Velvet Underground.
For four decades Roland has been spinning twisted tales of Victorian villains, eccentric Edwardian inventors and the supernatural against a backdrop of gothic-psych-baroque pop, earning him the title “the male Kate Bush” (a comparison attributed to former label mate Robyn Hitchcock) and, more recently, “the Godfather of Steampunk”. His highly literate lyrics, often macabre themes and strong melodic gift has attracted an increasingly large and loyal cult following while his proudly independent ethos has ensured he has remained a cherished niche artist.
“I was more than flattered when Paul asked me to be part of this creative process…there are many, many new ‘favourite songs’ by one of my long-time music idols...
‘Lair of the White Worm’ to me is a classic Paul Roland album, with strong melodies, a rocking Fantasy themed sound, incredible artwork and a beautifully intense atmosphere. If you liked "Duel", "Sarabande", "Pavane" and "Danse Macabre", you are going to love "Lair of the White Worm".
Nico Steckelberg
lyrics
Into the Lair of the White Worm (reprise)
Into the realm of the white worm
Here it sleeps
He who seeks to prove his worth must journey far beneath the earth
and slay the loathsome serpent while it sleeps
It falls to me, I fear ‘tis so. To brave the stygian gloom I go
and steel myself to strike the fatal blow
Foul servant of the priests of Set coiled around the altar steps,
bestirring from a black narcotic sleep
Up from the noisome pit it crawls, slithering and squirming hauls
itself up to the surface for to feed [indeed!]
Oh Prince of all darkness have pity on me,
Oh Prince of all darkness, for accursed are we
Formerly managed by June Bolan, Paul has been spinning supernatural and historical-themed tales against a backdrop of gothic
rock, psych-pop and baroque strings, earning him the sobriquet, ‘The Male Kate Bush' (attributed to former label mate Robyn Hitchcock)...more
I shared a label with the Soft Boys back in the early 80s and was seduced by 'Underwater Moonlight' on first hearing. Privileged to have Robyn guest on my 'The Puppet Master' and 'Mad Elaine'). Paul Roland
This man never releases a weak album. Love them all. Heavy stoner rock to whimsical psych, bursting at the seams with strong songs and totally wired psych guitar. A killer, no filler. Paul Roland
For almost 50 years Marc inspired and energised me. Privileged to have been managed at one time by June and to have written 4 biogs - trying to capture what made him my main man. Paul Roland
Thin Lear's sophisticated rock music is tempered with soaring chamber pop accents and an undeniable gift for melody. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 30, 2020
