Album: “Information Camouflage” by 3 Daft Mankeys

3 Daft Monkeys are set to release their latest album Information Camouflage on 1st November, recorded in the Summer of 2024 at Propagation House Studios in Cornwall, the album was wholly funded by a successful crowdfunding campaign on their website. It promises to be a collection of 11 brand-new songs written over the last 2 years, many of which have been road-tested live and enthusiastically received by audiences up and down the country. Their music is hard to pigeonhole, mixing and crossing many musical genres from Celtic, Klezmer, Gypsy, Balkan, Latin, Ska, Dub Reggae, Indie, Rock, and even a hint of Shostakovich.

First track “Power to The Peaceful” Boom. Immediate energy! I feel like I’m on a pirate themed banana boat road at Disney. There’s a reasonable amount of complexity to the lyrics which I enjoy when listening to an album; it makes you pay attention to what’s being said and the message behind it. I’m pleased to hear some ‘la las’ that make you feel that you could still sing along, should you be seeing the band live for the first time.

As we move to the next track and title track of the album “Information Camouflage” , my mind springs to the Mad Hatter’s tea party, but with a contemporary social commentary. You can only imagine the “insta vs reality” pictures that Alice would take if that tea party happened today. This track also has some great “la la’s” throughout.

No more Disney analogies from me, though Disney could make a film based on a creature with the head of a monkey and the tail of a fish – very intriguing lyrics. I’d love to know where the inspiration for this comes from. “The Fiji Mermaid” is a very fun song to sing along to, and I love the thought that at their gigs, there must be a whole room of people singing along with these madcap words.

“New Tomorrow” opens with a riff that has me racking my brains to think what might have influenced it. Instantly catchy, it feels like it’s one of those songs that you feel you’ve heard before, just because it gets in your head and becomes an ear worm.

“Message To Authority” takes us down a deeper, darker route, carrying on the political and social themes that we’ve heard earlier in the album. This track seems to take a bit of a progressive influence, certainly for the first couple of verses. Again, one to sing along to – “we’re not giving in!”.

We’re lifted on the next track, despite the title being “The Prison Song”. The storytelling that plays a strong part throughout all the tracks on this album shines through on this song, and I hope I one day get to ask the band about this song and whether it was based on true historical events.

The next track “The is My Call” might be my favourite on the album. It seems to be a more introspective song, with what I assume are quite personal lyrics. They feel relatable, as we are, after all, all human. This seems to make the song stronger, as it feels as though it is sung with real passion. The violin is so sweet, and the layering of the vocals towards the end of the song is really gorgeous.

After some quite moving, serious tracks, “Easily” feels like we’re back to the fun stuff! Loving the ‘ba bas’ (if you love a “la la”, then you’re going to live a “ba ba”). Any song that tells you to live your best life is always going to go down well.

I must admit, that I expected “Energy” to start with the explosive upbeat jauntiness that has featured on some of the other tracks on this album, purely based on the title. So I was surprised when it had a slower start. This soon built, and the punky feel to this does give you an energy that gets more intense throughout the track. Again, one that makes you feel like you’ve heard it before, just because it’s so catchy!

This energy momentum carries on into “Roses” which you can’t help but dance around to. It gave me a definite ‘take your partner by the arm’ vibe! I’d love to get on the dance floor to this one.

We’re then treated to something a bit different at the end of the album, with what feels like a bit of a bonus track. Described as being a salty sea shanty that captures the rugged spirit of the wild Cornish coast, you certainly feel like you’ve been transported to a wild clifftop somewhere overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Certainly something a bit different and showcases the versatility of these musicians.

For the most part, the running theme throughout this album feels to me to be a reflection and an amplification of many issues that we’re all experiencing due to the current state of the world. This, meeting the traditional styles being played, and the vintage feel of the music, feels like a stark contrast, however 3 Daft Monkeys manage to meld these in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

Track Listing
Power to the Peaceful
Information Camouflage
The Fiji Mermaid
New Tomorrow
Message To Authority
The Prison
The is My Call
Easily
Energy
Roses
Ebb and Flow

3 Daft Monkeys are
Tim Ashton – Vocals, 12-String Guitar, Penny Whistle
Rich Mulryne – Bespoke Hand Percussion kit, Vocals
Athene Roberts – Violin, Vocals, Accordion
Jamie Graham – 6-String Bass

Links
https://www.3daftmonkeys.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/3daftmonkeys

Article By Sarah Lovegrove-Mills.