The 20th volume of the
Little Darla
series shows the San Francisco-based
Darla
label as vital and varied as ever. The disc collects tracks both released on
proper and some released by
-distributed labels like
Attack 9
,
Bubblecore
Fuzzybox
, and
LTM
. The bonuses are the exclusive tracks that are a treasured part of the series. Here the exclusives come from
Sweet Trip
, whose
"Deep (No. 2)"
is a melodic collision between acoustic
indie pop
and
electronics
that ends up being the best song the group has ever done,
the California Oranges
, whose sweet
"The Weather"
will send you on a time trip back to the heyday of
the Blake Babies
the Real Tuesday Weld
, clocking in with a
lounge-y
alternative version of the band's
"One More Chance,"
a
Graham Massey
remix of
Crispy Ambulance
's
"Step Up,"
and most amazingly, a new track by
the Wake
. The
reissues of
Factory
albums were highlights of 2002, and apparently the bandmembers were so chuffed by the positive reaction that they headed back into the studio to record an album for
. A demo of
Town of 85 Lights
is included here. A peppy track built around revolving samples and
Caesar
's dour vocals, it certainly bodes well for their full-length. The remainder of the collection is made up of previously released tracks, and includes highlights like the hushed
electronica
of
Freescha
, the
country
psychedelia
Lowlights
, the lush
"Saratoga"
from
's reissue of
Ultramarine
's seminal
Every Man and Woman Is a Star
album, the aching
slowcore
Pale Horse and Rider
, the welcome return of the lost
shoegazers
the Swirlies
, and the frosty
electro
-
folk
Women & Children
. The only real duds are the studied and overlong
"Drunk and Lighting Fires"
by
Maquiladora
and the generic strum and drone of
Saloon
. For the most part, this collection is indeed a treat for
indie
lovers everywhere. Thanks,
! ~ Tim Sendra