Recorded at a low ebb in
Nelson's career, the tracks here were never intended for solo release; instead, they were demos for a projected band called Perfect Serpents -- a sort of
Be Bop Deluxe Mark II. That project never managed to get off the ground, and
Nelson issued this set, a rough snapshot of what might have been. Like most demos, it's rough; the drum machines used sound raw, and often too far in front, and the mixes aren't perfect (it's a shame, really, that he didn't go back and remix the tracks to do them more justice before releasing them). However, the
Nelson guitar magic is there in abundance, multi-layered and glorious. His singing still remains a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, but those already converted will love it. As for the music, it's far more energetic and focused around songs than
Nelson had been for a while. In places, as on "Ancient Satellites," it even rocks in a way he hadn't since the demise of
Be Bop. But "The Invisible Man and the Unforgettable Girl" and "Angel in My System" are also among the standouts. The advantages in the album certainly outweigh the defects of home recording (and, to be fair, by the early '90s -- when this was made -- other people were doing home recording much better than
Nelson), and make you wish that a label had really bankrolled the band, so that listeners could have heard these songs done properly. ~ Chris Nickson