Originally released in 1991 on a limited edition vinyl LP..... The Word Raven From 'Ptolemaic Terrascope': This second album from Reefus consolidates his gnomic position of Pretender to the Footstool of the great god Hitchcock, sat somewhat left of Marc Bolan and not a million miles from Barrett himself. Whimsical yet timely pivoted tunes that

Originally released in 1991 on a limited edition vinyl LP..... The Word Raven From 'Ptolemaic Terrascope': This second album from Reefus consolidates his gnomic position of Pretender to the Footstool of the great god Hitchcock, sat somewhat left of Marc Bolan and not a million miles from Barrett himself. Whimsical yet timely pivoted tunes that circle around a basic guitar motif with sometimes an underpinned keyboard are sung lyrically in a poetical monotone throughout. 'Thinking of You' is a jolly little drum-coda masterpiece set against a jangly guitar rhythm. 'Gardening the Mind' electrifies your nerve-ends and the up-tempo 'Insect Rider' with its beautifully distorted guitar centrepiece sets the tone for what's to follow. The closing side-piece of 'Cormorant in Shades' is a similarly well-crafted piece of guitar anxiety. All in all, a rewarding investment that deserves to be heard- but you'll have to move fast. Phil McMullen.

From an interview with Ivor Trueman in 'Freakbeat': "The Word Raven": This latest LP includes a fine selection of sublime ditties, like "Raven Crauscelene" - built around a droning bass line, with Reefus enthusing over the delights of seeing the world from a crows point of view; "Salamander Raincoat" - posing questions about what would have happened if people like Jesus or Hitler had been incarnated as reptiles rather than humans; & "Cormorant In Shades" with some elegant gliding guitar. Like many of his songs "Hive", bobs along merrily, with ringing guitar and harmonic ooh's & aahs creating waves of drifting emotion. Other tracks include the love song "Thinking of You", the Barrettesque "Psyco-Gnome", and the hypnotic drone of "Gardening The Mind". Maybe The Soft Boys grew up and had a child after all... "The Word Raven" is a welcome anti-dote for too much noise and comes highly recommended. It's a limited edition tho' so be sure and be quick - Write to Reefus at the address at the end of this article !