WRITING tunes for people who are stoned off their tits has enabled many bands to forge a lucrative career. Like these:
Morcheeba
When part of a band’s name is a reference to a slang term for cannabis the writing’s already on the wall. They helped many an addled pothead while away the hours in the late 90s thanks to the ambient, floating harmonies of debut Who Can You Trust?, the title of which is presumably a nod to the paranoia associated with excessive weed use.
The Orb
In what other state of mind would you be captivated by the utter brilliance of someone repeating the phrase ‘little fluffy clouds’ over a backdrop of psychedelic electronica? Play it back the following morning and wonder what the f**k possessed you to buy this mad shit. Then spark up your first reefer of the day and it’ll all fall back into place.
Ozric Tentacles
You wouldn’t dream of listening to jazz fusion space rock sober, but after half a bifter those weird arrangements and innovative time changes sounds like the work of musical wizards. Proper hard core psychedelia for people who always make sure there’s a joint rolled ready on the bedside table for when they wake up in the morning.
Pink Floyd
The obvious go-to for reefer-fuelled old hippies who don’t mind guitar solos going on for weeks so long as there’s always a half-ounce of Durban Poison in the drawer. Comfortably Numb is such a stereotypical description of the average Floyd fan’s perpetual state of mind that it’s practically taking the piss.
Portishead
Bristol has produced plenty of artists dedicated to making comedown music, including Massive Attack and Tricky, but Portishead are the masters of producing songs that make the most sense when you’re caned out of your nut at 4.30am. Probably because they’re too f**king depressing to listen to in the cold light of day.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley was a devoted Rastafarian who smoked ganja as part of his religion. Now his image adorns the walls of dedicated potheads the world over who wouldn’t know who Emperor Haile Selassie was if he stole their Jamaican flag-themed weed grinder. They still love Marley’s music though, even if the themes of Burnin’ and Lootin’ have entirely passed them by.
