As Pop Boomerang label’s Scott Thurling puts it, this is his dream come true, after making tons of power-pop cassette compilations, here comes his first official release of such kind, that is bound to become some other fans’ dream come true.
Most of the songs are written especially for the occasion, and all of them are previously unreleased, making this a special collectors’ item when it comes to Australian guitar pop sounds. Though all of the artists involved deserve at least a word or two, it would take way too much space, so I’ll just stick to my personal faves.
The new wave-ish opening title tune comes from the garage power-trio, The Stoneage Hearts, which is followed by Living On The Moon by Magneto, a song that would fit perfectly alongside some of Noel Gallagher’s best works, and then Her Majesty’s Finest, doin’ their Westerberg-at-his-power-poppin’-finest.
Sarrah Sarrah (whose EP Sing Till It Hurts was the label’s debut release) deliver an imaginary Cardigans’ (Life-period) outtake, the harmonizing popsiklers Treetops’ Confused could’ve easily been one of the highlights of their last year’s mini album, Starky proudly wear their ‘Fanclub badge, even managing to come up with something that wouldn’t seem outta place on the recent Fannies’ Best Of, and the Smallgoods’ Listen To The Radio (…city ?!) sounds like a part of Big Star’s No.1 record-acoustic segment.
As for the song by The Dreamdayers, here’s what they say about it in the promo-sheet: “A young Marianne Faithful, lost and lonely, drops by late on a Tuesday. I am pair of ears and a shoulder to cry on” (!?!?) … Now how could you possibly need anything more to get interested?! … by the way, the song recalls the innocence of the British indie pop from the mid-to-end ’80s.
The oldest recording here, a combination of McGuinn-ish jangle and Macca-like bass lines, originally meant for The Someloves never released second album in 1990, comes from Dom Mariani, a probable source of inspiration for most of the bands involved.
Besides it’s stripped-down, acoustic arrangement, you just won’t be able to resist the power of the united talents, delivered in the song by Danny McDonald (Jericho, P76, Stoneage Hearts) and Joe Algeri (Jack & The Beanstalk), Dancing Girl is a great BIG, “sticky” Jelly-ballad, comin’ from the “crowded house”, set in Tim Reid’s studio, and considering Andy Star’s rootsy pop of Lucky Strike, his forthcoming album (also on Pop Boomerang) is really something to look forward to.
Let’s just hope that the Pop Boomerang will keep returning frequently enough, not leaving us pop-hungry.
[Released by Pop Boomerang 2003]
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