Moonshake:

First EP (Creation) The band caught a lot of shit for the First EP supposedly sounding too much like My Bloody Valentine. If I remember correctly it did come out right around the time of _Glider_ and _Tremolo_, and even though it did have the characteristic swirling guitar textures and such, the songs and arrangements were much more reminiscent of bands like Can. If anyone can find me a copy of this disc, I'll be forever grateful (all I've got right now is an old, old, old tape).

Secondhand Clothes EP (TooPure) included in the Matador version of Eva Luna Eva Luna LP (TooPure/Matador) Beautiful Pigeon EP (TooPure) This next batch of releases run pretty much together. An amazing balance of noisy guitars, samples and soundbites, and the tightest rhythm section in all of rawk'n'role. Classic oblque art-rock in the true TooPure tradition. I think Eva Luna easily made it into most self-respecting rock critic's year- end top ten lists, although I think Adorable sold more records Stateside... Admittedly Dave Callahan's vocals are the fabled missing link between Mark E. Smith and John Lydon via a rheumatic goat, but _I_ like it, dammit. And as much as Margaret Fiedler possesses a "nicer" voice than Callahan, she does sound pretty damn anemic on this album. Okay, so vocals aren't Moonshake's forte, but they do work in context....

Big Good Angel Mini-LP (TooPure/Matador) Six songs, half penned by Fiedler, the other half by Callahan. I played this for a friend of mine who responded by asking me "Is this techno?" A curveball departure from the relative linearity of Eva Luna. Took me a while to get into this, but I like it. All of it. Matawhore released this sucker Stateside almost a good year after its initial release in the UK. I think it also sold as many copies as the new album by Superstar.

The Sound Your Eyes Can Follow LP (TooPure) Maggie Fiedler gets the boot, and she takes John the Bass God with her. So scratchy-voiced Callahan, left with drummer Mig, goes on to put together an album consisting mostly of sampled loops, lots of horns, and his trademark voice. About as accessible as your average brick wall, but it's damned impressive nonetheless. Definitely lacks the repeat-play quotient of Eva Luna or all the Laika releases, but just on "artistic merits" this album racks up enough points to redeem for a small Honda at your local swap meet.

Antenna EP (TooPure) The logical extension of all the songs that Ms. Fielder is responsible for on Big Good Angel. Much less song-oriented than texture-centered, but it does make an excellent soundtrack for late-nite net surfing. A lot more readily accessible than the latest Moonshake, although the balance between pop-ness and art-wank stands an even 55-45. The lackadaisical anemia actually works in this context. And the packaging is the second snazziest of the year.

Silver Apples of the Moon LP (TooPure) Simply the best dressed album of this year, boyee. The two best songs on the disc - "Marimba Song" and "44 Robbers" were previously released on an earlier EP and a TooPure comp, and the rest of the album makes for wobbly and shimmering aural wallpaper. Nice to look at, but don't stare at it too hard; you'll go cross-eyed. More accessible than the latest Moonshake offering, but not by much.

And when it boils right down to it, I'd much rather be listening to Eva Luna. But that's just me. :)