Nigel Planer (vocals) revives "
Neil" from the short-lived yet highly influential BBC-TV program The Young Ones on
Neil's Heavy Concept Album (1984). Although the show was set in the 1980s,
Neil's lifestyle centers around the mid- to late-'60s hippie culture, an exceedingly antiquated notion directly contrasting his ultra-mod housemates. This explains the inclusion of the fairly wide selection of psychedelic and progressive nuggets amidst the spoken links and occasional originals. The idea for the long-player stemmed from his version of
Traffic's early side "Hole in My Shoe" -- which came out as a single. When
Planer appeared in character to promote it on BBC 2's Top of the Pops, he lost his footing, resulting in the backdrop falling apart and causing general mayhem on live television. The tune is given a lighthearted romp with notable session musician Rick Biddulph (guitar) working in phrases of
the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" during the waning moments. Other fun covers are Tomorrow's "My White Bicycle,"
Syd Barrett-era
Pink Floyd on "The Gnome,"
Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man," and "The Amoeba Song," aka
the Incredible String Band's "A Very Cellular Song."
Caravan's "Golf Girl" is worth additional mention, as it features a cameo voice-over from Dawn French -- half of the comedy team French & Saunders -- as (of all things) a policewoman. Instrumentally,
Planer is supported by an all-star cast that includes
Dave Stewart (keyboards/bass/drum/guitar),
Barbara Gaskin (backing vocals),
Pip Pyle (drums), Jakko M. Jakszyk (guitars), and jazz heavy
Annie Whitehead (trombone), as well as
Jimmy Hastings, who at one time was a primary contributor to the aforementioned prog rock outfit
Caravan. "Lentil Nightmare" is a tremendously amusing
Planer-penned composition that, among other things, quotes "In the Court of the Crimson King" by
King Crimson amidst the proto-heavy progressive metal madness. The connecting bits of dialogue provide an outlet for
Planer's quirky and earthy humor. Also of note is "Neil the Barbarian," a parody of a movie advert where
Neil -- a strict vegan -- eats a hamburger, which transforms him into this superhero-type character. All said,
Neil's Heavy Concept Album is thoroughly entertaining and recommended for inclined parties. ~ Lindsay Planer