Three Minute Tease - Bite The Hand (Idiot)

Building on the strength of their 2011 eponymous debut, Three Minute Tease, the Pan-European trio of songwriter Anton Barbeau with Soft Boys/Egyptians alums Andy Metcalfe and Morris Windsor, deliver an even better sophomore effort that effectively blends psychedelic pop with glam rock and power pop.

Bite The Hand explodes in a flurry of pop sensibilities emboldened by psychedelia’s mind expanding freedom. Beginning with the Ray Davies-like sneer of “Bravely Fade Away,” the songs range from Monty Python humor (“Drinking Horn,” “Coffee That Makes the Men Go Mad”) to wistful reflection (“Tie My Laces,” “Beanpole” – the latter perhaps a nod to Barbeau’s former Sacramento-based contemporary) and even outright bitterness, as in the powerful reworking of Barbeau’s solo staple, “MTV Song.” Throughout, Barbeau tells his tales in his unique vocal blend of Marc Bolan and David Bowie with a touch of young Roger Daltrey. A work of pure energetic brilliance, the songs continuously reveal something different with each subsequent listen.

It would be easy to lump Three Minute Tease in with Robyn Hitchcock, Julian Cope and XTC, but Barbeau, Metcalfe and Windsor are off on their own trip. Hop on the purple lily pad and ride down the rainbow river past the haloed sunflowers…