The High Llamas "Hawaii" 1997

Sean O'Hagan has a gift for orchestral pop, creating lush soundscapes that are awash with sonic detail. He clearly owes a lot to Brian Wilson, and Hawaii, the High Llamas' third album, falls somewhere between Pet Sounds and SMiLE...
...Sonically, the rich, orchestrated production is reminiscent of the former, but Hawaii is paced like SMiLE, with brief instrumentals and song fragments framing the full-fledged songs. Each is carefully arranged and recorded, offering an inviting tapestry of strings, guitars, keyboards, brass, and percussion. For much of Hawaii, the sound of the record is intoxicating, but the album drags over the course of 77 minutes. Among the 29 tracks, there are some beautiful moments and gorgeous songs, but Hawaii winds up being too much of a good thing, lacking the focus of Gideon Gaye. [The American edition of Hawaii contains a 40-minute, six-track bonus disc, containing material previously unreleased in the U.S., including the B-sides for the Nomads single.] - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The High Llamas are:
Sean O'Hagan: Banjo, Guitar, Arranger, Harpsichord, Vocals, Harmonium, Piano, Vocals (Background), Moog Synthesizer, Piano (Upright), Vox Organ, String Arrangements, Vibraphone, Producer, Rhythm / Steve Waterman: Trumpet, Flugelhorn / Rob Allum: Percussion, Bells, Drums, Rattles, Drum Effects / Anne Wood: Violin / Andy Robinson: Trombone, Brass Arrangement / Marcus Holdaway: Piano, Piano (Upright), Vox Organ, String Arrangements, Vibraphone, Clavinet, Vocals (Background), Harpsichord, Harmonium, Cello / Jayne Spencer: Violin / Colin Crawley: Flute, Sax (Tenor) / John Bennett: Guitar, Vocals (Background), Lap Steel Guitar / Sally Herbert: Violin / Mark Lockheart: Flute, Sax (Tenor) / Andy Gibson: Trumpet, Flugelhorn

trax:
1. Cuckoo Casino 2. Sparkle Up 3. Literature Is Fluff 4. Nomads 5. Snap Shot Pioneer 6. Ill-Fitting Suits 7. Recent Orienteering 8. The Hot Revivalist 9. Phoney Racehorse 10. Dressing Up The Old Dakota 11. D.C. 8 12. Doo-Wop Property 13. Theatreland 14. A Friendly Pioneer 15. Cuckoo's Out 16. Peppy 17. Thre's Nobody Home 18. The Hokey Curator 19. Campers in Control 20. Double Drift 21. Island People 22. Incidentally N.E.O. 23. Tides 24. Nomad Strings 25. Pilgrims 26. Rustic Vespa 27. Folly Time 28. Hawaiian Smile 29. Instrumental Suits