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A refined follow-up to the patchy 68% Pure Imagination, this is archetypal nineties power-pop, on a par with the likes of Velvet Crush and The Wondermints (whose Darian Sahanaja and Nick Walusko guest and co-produce) whilst the harder, rockier tracks and lead breaks bring a touch of Redd Kross to the party. Cue lots of summery, shimmering guitars and layered harmonies topped with a glossy sheen, with Rusty Squeezebox's soulful vocals shining brightly throughout, making the most of some pretty banal lyrics ('Every summer, sky is ocean blue. Every summer makes me think of you'); not that power-pop is known for its literary aspirations. Despite an abundance of talent and occasional moments of sonic bliss, it's a little undemanding and in need of some Posies-esque schizophrenia to break the monotony. Exploring Music could have dug a little deeper.

Matt Dornan
CWAS #4 - Winter 1998/9 - The Lost Issue

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