It's not exactly new, but I just stumbled across the Sand Pebbles "Noah's Ark" +2 (Camera Obscura 7" CAMO42S) and it really bears mention. In the mid-'80s, Australia was producing a lot of very memorable music, but there has been less to get excited about lately (at least from where I sit). The Sand Pebbles are a classic garage-psych band, almost like a more drug-swoggled version of the Stems crossed with Died Pretty or something. My Canadian friend, Jack, says that the guitar tone on "Hey, Let Me In" is pure Status Quo (ca. Pictures Matchstickable), but the Pebbles' playing is so loose and obviously canted against pop-song-formatting that I'm not sure that the tone tells the tale (as they say). Regardless, this is a fine, weird guitar psych 45 and the label art is real seell cop of the old Astor design. Nice touch.

- Byron Coley