The Chrysanthemums - Decoy for a Dognapper (2022) Hi-Res

SO HERE'S THE STORY. Inactive for two decades, in 2017, the founding fathers of the Chrysanthemums – Alan Jenkins and Yukio Yung (or Terry Burrows if you prefer) – joined a conversation about themselves on an American fan's Facebook page. Gentle cajoling to record some new material quickly escalated. Many of the Chrysanthemums' past concepts had come from Jenkins and Burrows riffing, trying to “out-stupid” one another – exchanges that gave birth to such lo-fi epics as 'Is That A Fish On Your Shoulder Or Are You Just Pleased To See Me?' or their acclaimed sophomore effort, 'Little Flecks Of Foam Around Barking'. On this occasion, what began with a non-committal agreement to “maybe do something” developed at some pace, passing through the predictable “Twenty-minute prog rock EP with contrasting movements and complex shifting time signatures?”… then onto “Only if it’s a concept album” … and, of course, “I’ll do it, but only if the concept is based around Scooby-Doo.“ Discussions concluded with a firm agreement to record a concept album based around a single episode of Scooby-Doo, one from 1969 (episode five of the first ever series) called ‘Decoy For A Dognapper’.

Most sensible people probably would have left it there. In truth, it’s doubtful that even Alan and Terry thought it would go any further. And then something unexpected happened. They both watched the ‘Decoy…’ episode on YouTube and began writing songs. And they carried on writing. And writing. And writing. A. Lot. Of. Songs. Within three or four months a 19-minute episode of a children’s cartoon TV show from the late 1960s had blossomed into nothing less than a grand-scale rock opera, one, indeed, that at almost 90 minutes in length would struggle even to fit onto the obligatory double vinyl LP with gatefold sleeve ... ideally designed by Roger Dean.

During the recording process a wide assortment of colleagues, friends and luminaries found themselves dragged into the mania. Steven Plesiosaur (Tonesucker/Loch Ness Monster), who had drummed on the band's early 90s "London Palladium EP, was called into action; as were original Chrysanthemums Vladimir Zajkowiecz, Jonathan Lemon and Robyn Gibson. Geraldine McKewen (The Real Tuesday Weld) provided violin and backing vocals; Lane Steinberg (The Wind/Noel Coward's Ghost) created sumptuous vocal harmonies; Louis Burrows (Family Yung) wielded his clarinet; Jack Dunn blew his horn; and Illy Birkenwald and Lenny added even more layers of vocalisation; finally, celebrated voice artist Joe O'Connor drew spectacularly on his inner Brian Blessed!

By March 2020, and the first pandemic lockdown, ‘Decoy For A Dognapper!’ was almost ready for release. A three-track taster EP - Splendid Isolation - emerged to a positive response from the band's followers. Even though the album was apparently "95% finished", Burrows nevertheless somehow managed to spend the next two years fiddling around in the studio with the final mixes. Until, in the Summer of 2022, it was agreed that the work was done.

So here it is. Decoy For A Dognapper! A double CD of the classic English psych-prog-pop that, through their early albums and tours of Europe in the 90s, found the Chrysanthemums a cult, devoted following. Will it be 20 years until their next release? Who knows? Will Burrows, Jenkins. Plesiosaur and Zajkowicz ever again grace the stages of Europe? Who knows? So for the time being, immerse yourself with an epic stroll around the realm of the ridiculous. THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS ARE BACK!