The Comedy of Errors: Back to the Planet - Revolution of Thought (8 May 1992)

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In days of yore, painters and writers strove for cultural relevance or success in a garret.  For bands, who couldn’t necessarily fit into a sloping attic, it was a squat that would serve as a base for their art. I was initially shocked, but then less so, when I read Carl Loben’s article for Louder Than War about some of the prestigious musicians who had been squatters when they were young and unknown.  Squatting also provided its own music and culture scene.  Julian Cope’s Head Heritage message board features a long thread on some of the most prominent and best bands from that scene, which seemed to specialise in various tribal, funky forms of space-rock.  Magic Mushroom Band were a Peel backed band from this scene.

Formed out of a squat collective based in Peckham, Back to the Planet don’t appear to have many fans on Head Heritage, but they had John Peel in their corner and on this evidence, they would have had me too.  Revolution of Thought was Back to the Planet’s first “proper” release after a couple of  cassette-only live albums.  It’s an interesting mixture of naively, sincere lyrics on gender politics and war-mongering bound up in fabulously funky rhythms and evocative production work (provided by Llwybr Laethog  according to Peel).  You can picture the dancing dreadlocks and raves around the campfire from here.

Video courtesy of maggieloveshopey.