PETER BERRY & THE SHAKE SET
Wildberry Shake! (Teen Sound Records; CD)
     Another Fab creation from famed, Toe Rag Studios in London. Norway's Peter Berry And His Shake Set have that Mersey Beat '64 sound down pat and what fun it is to hear! Picking up The Kaisers' torch and continuing on down that same Liverpool path. If you loved The Kaisers, you're definitely gonna enjoy Peter and the boys. I'd have to say they're a combination of The Searchers/Hollies/Shadows. The swell instros 'Skillingsfors Evening Dance', 'Yellow Cavallery', 'Starlights of Oslo' being excellent examples of that Shadows influence. Their choice cover of the upbeat Nash/Clarke Hollies' album track 'Little Lover' is an inspired choice. 'Roll Over Beethoven' remains pretty faithful to The Beatles' cover version. The remainder of the album's 12 tracks are band originals and are fabulous, kinda like lost beat songs from that era. 'Sorrow Counts For Love' and 'Someone Like You' being my personal faves of their uptempo originals. It's a fun album and very recommended indeed!
http://crea.html.it/sito/NOWSOUND/
Steve Elliott

THE BRESSLAWS
I Only Asked! (Biff!Bang!Pow!; Cd)
     The Bresslaws play upbeat, driving and tuneful British garage-beat. The title track sets the tone, being a pacey instrumental with lashings of Hammond and harp. Tony Bailey's keyboards are consistently impressive throughout.
     The long, anthemic 'Don't Walk Away' is a highlight, with well-arranged vocals. The girl-you-done-me-wrong lyrics of 'Backfist Baby' and 'A No Good Woman' probably won't impress the ladies, but the tunes are neat. There is even a cover of 'Have Love Will Travel'on which the sound and the female (?) backing vocals bring to mind 90's garage band The Green Hornets.
     Vocalist Andy Harding has a warm and strong voice, giving the songs a positive, happy feel. The only drawback to a fine debut is that a couple of the songs, 'Little Johhny Clay','Captain Fantastic' and, to a lesser extent, 'Machine Gun Bobby' are marred by annoying and affected 'Mockney' Johhny Rotten style vocals, which really don't do it for me.
www.biffbangpow.org.uk
www.thebresslaws.com
Phil Suggitt

COLOUR HAZE
Tempel (Elektrohasch; CD)
     It would be easy to take sideways swipes at this opiate infused collection of stoned psychedelic rock  and make a jape about these long haired, hairy dudes  being  ' schtoned Germans, yar.' As this would not be good for international relations, lead to SD being deemed xenophobic and play up to all misconstrued stoned German hippy sterotypes I won't.  Guitar textures and patterns drift, doomy fuzz fuds mercilessly and the occasional rockin' vocal takes off... but I do find anything resembling a memorable tune or definite groove infrequent. There's far better '70s intoned head rock, and far worse, for that matter. It's plain ole smoker's head shaking music.
www.elektrohasch.de
Jon 'Mojo' Mills

THE FIRE APES
The Fire Apes (Kool Kat; CD EP)
     'Hey Kate' the first tune on this 5 song EP exemplifies a catchy, power-chord based type of Power Pop that  Americans do so well. The only trouble is that a lot of Us bands overdo it; I feared that the next four songs would follow the same formula and things would soon become predictable and tedious. Happily guitarist and songwriter John Seymour understands the need for variety and melodic invention, as the second song, 'If things Don't Look so Good Today' is a good jangly ballad, and 'Killing Me From Inside' features cello and Hugh Knight's keyboards. The vocals are well done throughout. Apparently the band have already released two  full length CD's, which should be well worth checking out.
www.koolkatmusik.com
www.thefireapes.com
Phil Suggitt

THE GIN BLOSSOMS
Major Lodge Victory (Hybrid; CD)
     Well here's a surprise the first new recordings in ten years from the reformed Gin Blossoms and what a great comeback. With three quarters of the songwriting being done by main man Jesse Valenzuela this is a guitar hook laden gem of a disc with loads of soaring harmonies well up to the standard of their past hits like 'Hey Jealousy' and 'Mrs Rita'. The songs are great throughout but standouts are 'Heart Shaped Locket'and 'Curious Thing'. For those who like rousing guitar driven anthems this comes highly recommended.
www.hybridrecordings.com
Pat Curran

THE GRAINS
Just Our Flame (Teen Sound; CD)
     A Doors/Shadows of Knight influence with a definite psychedelic garage edge from Italy's Grains. Lots of hard driving tunes. 'Brand New Girl' being the best amongst those. I especially liked their jangly melodic cover of 'Summer' a lot which, kind of reminded me of The Lemon Drops a bit. Cool 60's psych digipak and CD design from the fine folks at Teen Sound for this new band. They do have to watch out in that, they do not keep reproducing a sameness to most of their uptempo tracks as they've done here. A little more variety from them would be better on their next album. The Grains are another reminder of the thriving garage scene happening in Italy today.
http://crea.html.it/sito/NOWSOUND
Steve Elliott

I'M FROM BARCELONA
Let Me Introduce My Friends (Virgin Sweden; CD)
     I'm From Barcelona is exactly where this Swedish 29 piece are not from. Although with these summery pop anthems, the name is actually quite apt. Their sound is very much of the moment, perfect for this time of year--relaxing in your back garden with a cold one. The obvious comparisons with The Polyphonic Spree are inevitable. But there're also glimpses of The Spinto Band, Architecture In Helsinki, Belle and Sebastian (particularly the school choir-eque harmonies) and their fellow Swedish compatriots The Shout Out Louds. By no means are this quirky collective original, as they definitely wear their influences on sleeves, but what you do get are shiny pop songs, laden with great hooks and classic honey coated harmonies – and every single track on this album could be a potential single.
     The problem that could face I'm From Barcelona is that this power pop choir genre furrow has been ploughed and reaped successfully many times in recent years, and although this album is on a par with several of its peers, there isn't quite enough here for this to be as beautiful or aspiring as it its city namesake...
Niall Prescott

THE MOVEMENTS
Grains of Oats (Alley Cat Productions; CD)
     Yes, Yes and thrice Yes!! This bunch are a Swedish group and if you liked Sweden's The Strollers then you will want this disc without doubt. The Movements have a strong affinity to the 'Paint It Black' school of minor key modal scale lead lines, but played on farfisa organ rather than guitar. Add some strong fuzztone guitar, well mixed back, leaving the keyboard to carry the melody and add a confident vocal, cleanly recorded and you have a perfect modern '60s  album. It is also not unduly reminsent of Sean Bonniwell's Music Machine at times, and that's no small compliment! This is a blinding set from start to finish. The Swedes and the Spanish (see Winnerys review further on) seem to be the global hubs for inventively modern 60s rooted music. From the opener 'It Starts With A Whisper', you know you will be on this ride until the end. The end comes 11 songs later with 'Space Autopsy' which is a great whirlwind of a number coloured by bleeps and various noises which conjure up a late 60s episode of the popular British science programme Tomorrow's World take on what the future will sound like. I recommend this one very strongly and you can find out how to get it via their website, don't hesitate!
www.themovements.com
Paul Martin

THE PREACHERS
Voodoo You Love? (Teen Sound; CD)
     Italy's most definitely Fuzztones-influenced, Preachers fuzz out to great effect here along with a touch of early Doors. 'Shake your bones' sounds more like their own original sound than the album's opener, 'Ants Room' which could've been a Fuzztones' Monster A-Go-Go outtake. They rock The Fabs' 'The Bag I'm In' a little bit harder than the original band to good effect here. 'Child' reminded me a lot of contemporary garage band, Freddy & The Four-Gone Conclusions with its upbeat harmonies. A very cool tune ! 'Hell-o' lands back again in Fuzztones territory and, it's a fine song at that with snarling vocals by Bela Filosi with some fab, fuzzy lead guitar by Bax. Their competent cover of Love's take on 'Little Red Book' didn't do much for me as I felt it missed the original's considerable drama & edgy feel. 'The Preacher' cut from both The Fuzztones' & Doors' cloth is a good album closer rave-up. If you're into The Fuzztones, I think you might enjoy The Preachers' fuzzed rockin' sounds.
http://crea.html.it/sito/NOWSOUND
Steve Elliott

RAINY DAY SAINTS
Diamond Star Highway (Get Hip;CD)
     Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dave Swanson has always brought a sense of melodic invention to his projects. Way back in 1986 Swanson and bassist Brian McCafferty produced some excellent driving guitar pop as part of The Reactions, whose 'Cracked Marbles' ep I play to this day. They haven't lost their edge after years of playing. The bright, well produced harmonies of Swanson and  McCafferty give a neat pop shine to everything on the band's second CD.
     In common with a few other fine modern bands from around the globe, The Rainy Day Saints incorporate elements of 60's psych, pop, garage, punk, folk-rock and beat-in short, everything that Shindig stands for. Rather than being a catch-all hodge-podge of different genres, Swanson and his cohorts sound comfortable in lots of styles, because they never lose sight of a good pop tune. A review of the first album wasn't far off by describing the sound as 'powerpop psych rock with an indie feel'.
     The opener 'I Don't Follow' is full of great Rickenbacker-style folk rock jangle. 'Mirror Mystery' follows, a feast of guitars and catchy hooks. If you aren't sold by now, you should be! The quality remains consistent throughout. All of the eleven songs are strong, including a very different, slower and atmospheric version of the Dead Boys' 'Sonic Reducer' and the excellent garage pop of 'Nowhere Girl' or 'She's Falling Apart'.
www.gethip.com
www.rainydaysaints.com
Phil Suggitt

THE ROOKIES
Out Of Fashion (Teen Sound; CD)
     Italy's Rookies come rocking straight out of the gate from the get go. Lead-off tune, 'I Don't Care' being the best of the rockers. A nice cover of The Outsiders' ballad, 'What's Wrong With You' flavoured with some choice guitar work. Another cover of The Motions' 'I've Waited So Long' is pretty good and faithful to the original. I have to say there's a sameness to a lot of the straight ahead rockers on this album. A little more variety would've been better and served the band better. Maybe on their next album they will correct this? Although good, the selected cover songs don't really detract the listener too much from the sameness factor. If you're curious as to what's new in contemporary Italian garage then, you might check these guys out.
http://crea.html.it/sito/NOWSOUND/
Steve Elliott

SEMION
Help Me I Work In An Office (Semion; CD)
     In an age when UK guitar pop is almost suffocating itself with its aspirations to return to the jagged new-wave templates of Wire and Gang Of Four or cut its own head off whilst attempting to nail the loser chic of Babyshambles and their ilk it's rather refreshing to discover that Semion (semi-on, geddit?) take their cue from the terminally unfashionable underbelly of late '70s power pop whilst chucking in a couple of spoonfuls of righteous Jam-style shoutery, plenty of pithy Elvis Costello-tinged observation and then present the whole glorious stew as a vague approximation of Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake fronting a Blondie tribute band. With a London accent.
     While opener 'Rum Runner' may smack of Fountains Of Wayne's bouncier moments, 'Humour' displays a clear affinity with the sunnier side of Love circa Da Capo before 'Black Cloud' plunges us into the no-brainer riff world of mid-'60s Kinks and a million and one garage bands, the Semions of their day.
     And you've just gotta dig the postmodern Help! sleeve pastiche.
www.semionline.co.uk
Andy Morten

STINGRAY GREEN
Hard Numbers (HCI; CD)
     It's hard to believe it's almost three years since their Liverpool IPO appearance and dinky three track CD demo (see here for review) first brought Stingray Green to my attention. In fact, if you wanna be mathematical about it, it's taken the Minnesota quartet an average of four months to cut each of the seven remaining tracks that make up their long-playing debut. However, as we all know, good things come to those who wait and now our wait is over. Huzzah!
     Whilst plainly a democracy, Dan Sarka, lead vocalist and writer of the lion's share here, gracefully assumes the role of front man. Imagine Eric Carmen joining The Archies and having a nervous breakdown and you'll be close to the big guy's tonsil work. It's those plaintive tones that imbued cartoon pop legends The Vandalias with some much-needed humanity and pathos and it's still here in abundance. 'Somethin' Else', 'I Can Count On You' and the awesome 'Good Intentions' are the cornerstones, candy-coated bubble-pop nuggets with hearts of darkness from a netherworld where Queen, Fountains Of Wayne and The Jook are always in the top three and bright red 1967 Corvettes are standard issue to everyone between the ages of 15 and 65.
     That said, we mustn't overlook the crucial roles of fellow Greenies Dan Boardman, Robb Burnham and Kent Militzer, whose 'All Over You' may just be the band's ultimate manifesto and whose Lizzy-worshipping multi-tracked lead guitar lines breathe life into every shadow of these 31 minutes of pure pop bliss.
     Get it before the sun goes down.
www.stingraygreen.com
Andy Morten

MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS
Under the Covers Volume 1 (Shout Factory; CD)
     A labour of love by the multi talented Mr Sweet and the wonderful Ms Hoffs as they lovingly recreate their favourite tracks from the sixties. This plays like a very tasteful jukebox with lesser known tracks like the Lefte Bank's 'She May Call You Up Tonight' and The Zombies' 'Care Of Cell 44' alongside more obvious known ones like 'Monday Monday' and 'The Warmth Of The Sun'.
     Love's 'Alone Again Or' is taken at a slightly quicker tempo than the original with layers of flamenco guitar and the requisite mariachi horns in the middle section. Susanna does an even better job on Mike Nesmith's 'Different Drum' than Linda Ronstadt did, but picking out tracks is really a waste of time. Volume two soon please.
www.shoutfactory.com
Pat Curran

THE THANES
The Complete Undignified Nobleman Sessions (Teen Sound; Cd)
     Scotland's Thanes' 1996 album sessions of the same name as recorded at London's famed, Toe Rag Studios in Mono. On CD for the very first time since the original vinyl LP's release in '97 and sprinkled with six additional bonus tracks that were dug up from various compilations and singles. Thus, it now being a 'complete' collection. Gritty, up-tempo guitar n' organ driven tunes with tasteful blues harp fills ala typical '65 US Nuggets-type garage bands. 'Throw Away The Key' is a prime example of that sound. The organ-driven ballad original, 'I'll Keep My Pride' sets a good mood.  'Uphill Slide' has a delightful early Stones/Kinks Blues feel to it. A delightful surprise & treat was their very faithful cover of Syd Barrett's unreleased early R&B Pink Floyd tune, 'Lucy Leave.' Lead singer, Lenny Helsing pulled off a dead-on impression of Syd's vocal with much success. 'Shipwreck', a cool moody band original shows off the Farfisa organ and the studio's own vintage reverb to good effect. Another swell cover, The Guess Who's 60's hit, 'It's My Pride' is done with much rockin' gusto & grit. Their cover of The Motions' 'It's Gone' is pretty catchy. Grab this now to understand what so many new bands are missing!
http://crea.html.it/sito/NOWSOUND
Steve Elliott

22 PISTEPIRKKO aka THE OTHERS
Ou wee! (Bad Afro; CD EP)
     In the mid-80's something strange stirred in the Finnish swamps. This six song collection is a reissue of 22 Pistepirkko's first EP, plus three recently recorded Link Wray covers by their alter-ego, The Others.
     Twenty years on, the band's early recordings don't sound quite as strange and original as they first did. The three early songs here combine a large dose of the Bo Diddley beat, harmonica, Farfisa and reedy vocals that are strangely strange but oddly normal. 'Havana City Beat' rocks, pointing in the direction that they would take on their first two LPs, which forged a unique and compelling take on garage rock'n'roll.
     The Others mutate the Wray tunes into their own style, by featuring Asko's keyboards, which have always sounded a bit cheesy but also slightly eerie and exciting. 'Zip Code' and 'Scatter' sound particularly good; Link would definitely approve.
www.badafro.dk
Phil Suggitt

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Fuzztones Illegitimate Spawn (Sin Records; 2-CD)
     What do you do in your 25th Year Anniversary as a band besides releasing a special CD/DVD combo LSD 25 (25 Years of Fuzz & Fury) celebrating all your best material and rarities? Answer: a tribute album featuring all the bands you've influenced through the years as well as friends from around the World. On this fab 2006 tribute album The Fuzztones themselves have organised and released it on their very own label, Sin.  Most versions here are very faithful covers and don't differ all that much from the band's originals, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I've tried to highlight some of the slightly different versions that stood out a little more for me  than the obvious tunes. Sparkling Bombs (France) deliver a very faithful and passionate version of 'This Sinister Urge'. Even ex-Fuzztone, Batlord (US) makes an appearance with a new self-penned tune the upbeat, 'Deb O' Nair Affair.' 80's Psychedelic legends, Plasticland (US) turn in a welcome appearance with their reworked slow psychedelic version of the eternal Fuzztones classic, 'Ward 81.' Good to see the Marshmallow Overcoat (US) do 'Skeleton Farm' with their charming finesse and really fab organ. The Intercontinental Playboys (UK) rock out fiercely with 'Brand New Man.' Argentina's Gondolieri submits a faithful yet really nice acoustic version of 'Charlotte's Remains.' Mad Juana's fine (USA) reworked 'Idol Chatter'  is more exotic acoustic based than the original was. Praise to The Special Agents (UK) for their wonderfully creepy and faithful cover of 'The Thing.' Another couple of other ex-Fuzztones turn up in The Morlocks (guitarist, Jordan Tarlow) take on 'Black Box' and The She Wolves' driving,  'Heathen Set'  with guest organist, Deb O'Nair. 70's Punker, Jayne County backed by The She Wolves with, what else, 'You Tarzan, Me Jane.' Blues So Bad (Italy) scream 'My Nothing.' Germany's Vibravoid submit a cool psych treatment and, 2nd tribute to the Fuzztones female organist with 'Lovely Lady Deb O' Nair.' 70's New Wave Rocker, Nikki Sudden (Berlin) turns in a fab moody 'Just Once.' The Deadbilly's (USA) rockabilly, 'Riders In The Sky'-like version of 'All The King's Horses' was fun to hear. 'Third Time's the Charm' and lucky that The Deletones (Finland) have added some sex appeal to this song with singer Wendy Allford's sensuous vocals. 'Romilar D' is given the power trio treatment from The Crookshanks (USA). I enjoyed listening to all of the different band's varied interpretations of the Fuzztones' classics.
www.fuzztones.net
Steve Elliott

VARIOUS ARTISTS
International Pop Overthrow Volume 9 (Not Lame; 3-CD)
     Yes, it's Summer and that can only mean...David Bash has organised another International Pop Overthrow festival! Is it already a year since the last one? Must be as I have here, 2006's International Pop Overthrow Vol.9, yet another triple cd set, this time featuring 70 songs by 70 artists from around the globe. Space does not permit me to do justice to all the contributors, but rest assured the set contains gems ranging from acoustic moodies to buzz-saw chord churning punk pop. All of whome subscribe to the five principles of pop as outlined in the cover art, namely 'Melody, Hooks, Guitars, Harmonies, Chords'. All I can do is pass on some that made my ears prick up on first hearing. So, from disc one we have Cherelle Jardine – 'Head Traffic', a vintage piece of wah-wah guitar penetrating throughout, Millicent Friendly (a group, not person!) – 'You' which is a clasy slice of pop-punk, J.R & The Randogs 'Nine Dollars To Hollywood', a really good tune with storybook lyrics that'll get your finger flicking the repeat button; Jeremy – 'Come Clean', which is bright and shiney pop; Blackout – 'I Don't Want To Grow Up' and the kid singing sounds young enough to mean it maaan – good hook and fuzzy chords to boot; Popdudes – 'Waterloo' – a slowed-down powerpop version of the Abba song that works surprisingly well!
From Disc 2, The Mayflowers – 'Color Me Pop', a storming Japanese hybrid of punk-pop and 60s melody, amazing - check out their Pop-A-Doodle-Do cd via Not Lame. Mama Got 5 – 'Shine On' which sports some mellifluous chords, The First Time – 'Goodbye Harlowe' (do they mean Jean or the place on Essex I wonder? Great punk pop whichever.  Shamus Twins – 'Picture Of Her' Another melodic stunner, a beuatiful meld of west coast country-folk and soft pop stylings; Nushu – 'Popsound' which it certainly is; The Hectors – 'Cold Star' which features big U2 Edge-like guitar shapes; Jet City – 'Can't Help Myself' , a back to basics chord riff with good chorus hooks.  Finally, from the often more mid-paced disc 3, Fresh Mowed Lawn – 'Wish It All Away' a melodic and well structured power pop ballad; Dirty Royals – 'Like A Sucker', a  great power pop tune which has wonderful flow and movement; Susan Hedges & The Other Kind – 'White Water' pushing a good downer riff with some 70's type harmonies; Checkpoint Charley – 'Cardiac Arrest'. A very good striding mid pacer with a structure not dissimilar to The Queen Necterine Machine's 'Mysterious Martha Garoo'- check out their CD also, their 'Sister Veronica' is a great tune as well; Carolyn Edwards – 'Lunacy'. This is a lovely parlour pop number with a cool late 60s - early 70s singer / songwriter feel which works well.
     So overall, something for everyone who likes modern groups who like guitars and good tunes. It's cheap to buy and gives full contact and album etc info on all the bands featured. Full marks for everyone involved. You'll make some new discoveries in here that you won't regret, get it now!
www.notlame.com
Paul Martin

THE WINNERYS
Daily Urban Times (Rainbow Quartz; CD)
     I could start and end this review right now by just saying this is a brilliant cd, buy it immiediately. It would be accurate, but hardly justified if you haven't already heard it. I could add that this is a one hour, 15 song festival of Beatles-Byrds hybrid melodic pop you simply have to hear, but that would be underselling the originality and songcraft of the music. The Winnerys have matured no end since 2004's And The Winnerys cd. That was a good album in the first half at least, but for me, the quality was not sustained through the second half which sounded more like basic indie rock / pop. Daily Urban Times however, is a sublime album, right through. They have grown and the music shows it. From the moment the set kicks off with 'Get Into My Life' you know you've struck gold. Every number is indeed a winner. It has been a while since a modern album rooted in 60s music has jumped out at me and slapped me round the chops like this one does; dayglo harmonies and melodies, jingle-jangling guitars and big effortless (ie professional and rehearsed) production ensure you won't be reaching for the skip button at any point. Amongst the spangly jangly guitars and harmonies can also be found longer work outs such as 'Urban Lady Blues' which if you saw this title on a late 60s underground album would make you thumb straight pas it, but this is no blues rock dirge, but yet another clevily crafted melodic work out with some nice guitar moves. Then again we have the mid tempoed 'Peace In The World' which is the best ode to peace that John Lennon never wrote. 'Mr Cupid's Puppet Show' is a pepperesque beauty and end note 'Humble Heart' delivers another twist by being of a different ilk again to most of the rest. My hand on heart I have to say that along with fellow Rainbow Quartz signings, The Gurus, (both Spanish bands, what do they put in the water over there and can I have some?!) this is perhaps the most impressive modern 60s rooted pop album I have ever heard, I simply cannot praise it enough. You really do need to hear this right now.
www.rainbowquartz.com
Paul Martin