The Chemistry Set

“Paint Me A Dream” b/w “The Witch”

"Paint Me A Dream" is about the power of visions. It begins, lyrically, with a group of mystics who become hypnotized as they sing together while playing dulcimers and lyres. This in turn evolves into mystical visions and a request to the divine eye to “paint them a dream” (travel from the grey to the technicolor). As the painted dream multiplies and embraces them further, they meet Orpheus, the lyre-playing Greek musician, poet and prophet, travelling further in time and space to encounter translucent orbs, stratospheric emanations and transcendental oscillations. Yes, it's a trip.

Musically, the song employs layered multiple rhythm guitars to create a wall of sound, using the differing tones of a 1963 Fender Esquire with custom pick-ups (as a Syd Barrett once wielded) and a Gretsch with TV Jones pick-ups. Riffs were put through vintage fuzz, tremolo and ‘60s tape delays, offering different textures and dynamics. After the first guitar solo, a bow of appreciation is given to the band HP Lovecraft, with harmonies in a style similar to a part of their live version of “The Drifter” while also finishing with “The Drifter” riff in a different key to the original.

Because it’s so similar to the style in which The Chemistry Set write their own songs, “The Witch” felt like a great choice for a cover. For the intro, the band crafted a Bee Gees-inspired five-part Gregorian chant to achieve the desired ethereal vibe, while a bit of Red Krayola-style free-form-freak-out later in the song adds a new twist to Mark Fry’s obscure classic. The full glory of psychedelia was further augmented with a collection of interesting instruments, including Persian setar, acoustic cigar box guitar, strangely tuned 12 string acoustic, vintage keyboards, various ethnic percussive instruments and even a half full whiskey bottle hit with a knife!

Both songs are influenced by the collective immortal spirits of Arthur Lee and Love, Syd Barrett, Jimi Hendrix, Tomorrow, The Electric Prunes and Ennio Morricone.

Singles are pressed on 7-inch, 45 rpm vinyl records.