Real As You Believe

And now for something completely different

     

Real As You Believe, the third album by Chicago's bicycle tricycle, marries the near-obsessive lyrical vision of leader, singer and songwriter Bohb with a musical setting that, unlike previous bitri outings, relies on warmer, more authentic, back-to-basics drum, bass, guitar and keyboard arrangements. In other words, this is no longer an idiosyncratic synth-nerd venture masterminded by one Reason-wielding madman, staring through a veil of blue smoke at a dim reflection of himself in a laptop screen. This record showcases Bohb's new affinity for psych-influenced folk rock, albeit with a few more contemporary sounding keyboard flourishes. The result will have fans of hooky songwriting in the Donovan, T. Rex vein smiling, lighting up and tapping their feet. Fans of tantalizing, cryptic lyrical imagery will not be disappointed either, although there was never any shortage of that on any previous bicycle, tricycle record. The last track is a moody, reverent take on Roky Erickson's beautiful ballad, I Have Always Been Here Before, deftly pulled off.