The group's commercial compromises[6] also led to "self-knocking",[7] and its recordings developed an ironic distance that on Mighty Garvey sometimes invites comparison with The Kinks,[8] Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, Frank Zappa or The Bonzo Dog Band.

Even on Hugg's intricate and sentimental "Harry the One Man Band" the vocal track finally dissolves into schoolboy mirth and silly noises.

Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band concept ("Edwin Garvey" being an invented character introduced on the similarly flippant flip side of "Mighty Quinn").

These three parodies and two hit singles take up over a third of a relatively short L.P. and of the remainder, d'Abo's "Country Dancing" and "The Vicar's Daughter" are likewise somewhat arch, besides strengthening an impression of "chameleonism"[8] and lack of sincere direction.

Yet this still leaves a core of worthwhile, intelligent and melodic songs, also by Hugg and d'Abo apart from "Cubist Town", written by guitarist Tom McGuinness in a one-off collaboration.