I hope this 7” gets some press, because it doesn’t seem like there are many copies, and it may disappear before it was even known. A man called Nick is behind Queen Victoria, and his “Auld Lang Syne” is a hermetic, homemade ragged psych-folk featuring brittle guitar and vocals that aim for the subtly epic, and often hit the mark. Each of the three tracks is strong, with the best being the opener, which is the title track.

"Auld Lang Syne" is a seven minute lo-fi dreamlike track, with the vocals passionately delivered, but with an Outsider’s sense of phrasing. The guitar, as it is throughout, is droning and sparse, but a constant counterpoint to the vocal melody.

"The Ornaments" is a subdued, almost romantic song, with a melody that almost approaches pop, and with vocals that for the most part keep up with the rhythm. It is a minor classic of smoldering emotion. More passionate than smoldering, "To See Him as Human" wraps up the set with a more rocking psych track that has a dreamy drone to it; it is the most evocative and passionate of the three. For this short but powerful 7”, that is saying a lot.

I say email the guy directly (songsofqueenvictoria@gmail.com) if you want a copy of “Auld Lang Syne,” or check his MySpace page. This is a soon-to-be-rarity not to be missed. 8/10 -- Mike Wood (11 March, 2009)