Forty Elephant Gang are a five-piece from East London that blend elements of Folk, Americana and American Blues, and on their latest single Fever Dreams they delve deep into the subconscious world of bizarre imagery and strange juxtapositions. What could conjuer up images of Presley playing alongside Zeus? They don’t go as far as quoting Scrooge’s response to Marley’s ghost but they come up with similar causes: too much drink, spicy food, or even that old scapegoat cheese. Well, maybe.
The song digs deeper into the layers of dream states as Fever Dreams drifts into intrusive sounds, maybe as if you’d nodded off with the radio still on. Steve McQueen rubs shoulders with Marlon Brando, gods with heroic kings, none of them hanging around long enough to make sense. It’s a song that refuses to wake up properly, slouched and unbothered and with subtle noises twitching at the edges of a fully awake state.
Forty Elephant Gang take their name from a notorious group of female pickpockets from The Elephant & Castle. The band originally started as a trio featuring Andrew White on lead vocals and guitar, Sean Mannion on mandolin and backing vocals, and James Bachmann on guitar and backing vocals. They have since expanded their lineup to include Martin Moore on drums and Frazor Twyman on bass, adding a punchier feel to the band’s live sound.
