Walter Ghoul's Lavender Brigade's fake late-'60s British psychedelia (it is fake, no one's denying that) is likable, though not as inspirational as the real deal. Certainly they don't miss many tricks: emerging-from-fishbowl vocal distortion, jaunty sing-along piano anchoring equally jaunty sing-along merry trippy tunes, occasional melancholy folky strums à la Pink Floyd at their mellowest and Donovan, an instrumental "Sitar Piece," some freakout guitar, and more, all varied enough so that it doesn't sound like schtick. (Most American '60s revivalist bands, whether reviving garage, psych, or whatever genre, could learn much from that apparently obvious but little-used strategy.) The specter of Syd Barrett informs just about everything Damien Youth lays his touch to, the difference here being he's aiming more for Barrett's whimsical sensibilities rather than his downcast and murky ones. You can certainly hear "See Emily Play"-style Barrett - Pink Floyd on "House of Small," while other cuts recall gentle early Pink Floyd outings (not necessarily with Barrett such as "See Saw" and "Point Me at the Sky." Pink Floyd is not the only hero, however; "Glass Room" is a pretty close mimic of John Lennon's late-'60s early-'70s vocal style. Fruitier items like "Icicle Rainbow" get closer to the poppiest material by Tomorrow or other numerous bands that clogged the Rubble compilations of obscure British psychedelic rock. For something with less of a blissful grin, there's "Dr. Centennial" about a doctor at a mental ward that goes mad himself and releases the inmates. Not a brilliant LP, but you can count on this: if you always regretted that the Dukes of Stratosphear didn't make more albums, you should make this your next stop.

Richie Unterberger - All Music Guide

  Don’t be put off by this bona fide hoax. Disregarding the history written in the press release, which claims the band to be a ‘lost’ 60s act, this LP (and a single "House Of Small/ "Frumpy & The Strange Machine") feature the work of, I would imagine, an early 90s American band, in love with the Pink Floyd, The Beatles and Rubble / Circus Days comps. In line with the Dukes Of The Stratosphere, Paul Bevoir, The Aardvarks and The Nerve (other revisionists) Walter Ghoul, perhaps plagued by the lack of the big production of their heroes - the horns and strings are clearly synthesizers - have come up trumps in recreating quintessential UK ‘67-’69 psych-pop. The nasal-Lennon-like vocal and sombre orchestration of "Glass Room", although plagiarizing key elements of the genre, are extremely captivating whilst "Dr. Centenial", a complete change of mood, has an Egyptian ambiance, supporting a tale of insanity that Roy Wood could have quite easily penned. Obviously these chaps know the emblems of the music they love very well and in toying around in a small studio with a variety of instruments and effects, and songs that remind you of others, have forged an impressive LP. The only thing I find baffling is their anonymity, these guys, if still going, should stand up and be counted, as their music has definitely a place in our time.

John 'Mojo' Mills - Shindig! Magazine

  The authentic psychedelic freakbeat of Walter Ghoul's Lavender Brigade may seem like an anachronism these days, but hold their painted, bubbling sound next to what's passing for contemporary pop music and you'll want to wear op-art tab collars and kaleidoscopic spectacles and do some shopping on beatleboot.com the next time you're looking for quality footwear. The band's Carnaby-Street-on-acid sound swirls, pops and melts into fuzzed-out guitars, twelve-string Byrds-ian jangle-folk, and lush vocal harmonies. For anyone who has ever fallen in love with pop art, Peter Fonda films, West Coast Folk-Rock, chemical perspectives or Bam Caruso psyche-comps, Walter Ghoul's Lavender Brigade are one of the best bands you have never heard.

Eric Shea - listen.com

"House Of Small" (Twist 24) 7"

Another mod/revivalist/retro record, but this time I suspect the boys have more genuine influences than alot of artists in that canon. Instead of the Beatles, see the Turtles and the Seeds. They sound like a good pretention-free enjoyable garage band and the sleeve is adorable too. Bless 'em.

Record Collector