Electric Hawaii

Debut from New Zealand artist Ruban Neilson, formerly in Mint Chicks and Unknown Mortal
Orchestra--psychedelic electro-rock that combines a Phil Spector-ish 50s feel with 60s black
light rock, experimental pop/drum `n' bass rhythms and manipulated vocals/sounds. Sprightly
tunes with part-time hummable melody lines and trippy, unexpected twists & turns. New Zealand
pop artist Bic Runga is also a band member.

Opossom are a wonder. They're treading similar musical waters that bands like Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ariel Pink and Tame Impala are treading, albeit in more of a pop-centric way. At first listen the album has the aged, crackling sound that Dave Fridmann likes to pile on top of his friends albums. But unlike those bands, Opossom are in this to do nothing more than to play some great pop tunes. After about a minute of listening to album opener 'Girl', you open yourself up completely to Opossom's infectious and syrupy sweet psych-pop.

It must be told that the similarity in sound to Unknown Mortal Orchestra isn't completely happenstance. In fact, there's a darn good reason; Opossom main man Kody Nielsen was in Unknown Mortal Orchestra. He's also the little brother of UMO's psych-rock mastermind Ruben Nielsen. There's obviously something in the water down there in New Zealand, or at least the neighborhood where the Nielsen brothers grew up. But the love of tattered psych rock is the only real similarity between the two bands. Kody takes Opossom in a much more accesible direction than UMO. You would not find a great track like Electric Hawaii's 'Blue Meanies' on an Unknown Mortal Orchestra album. 'Blue Meanies' is pure pop fun. If 'Pumped Up Kicks' can be a hit, then so can 'Blue Meanies'. 'Getaway Tonight' is another pop confection that should be blasting on every college radio station in the states. Nielsen has a way with pop hooks and using just the right amount of aural rust on the mix to make you think you're hearing some long lost pop nugget. Opossom has much more in common with Kevin Parker and Tame Impala than with his former band and big brother's main gig. Like Kevin Parker, Cody Nielsen has as much love for a great sugary pop hook as he does for a psychedelic acid freakout.

Not that there's not plenty of those moments. On the second half of Electric Hawaii we're treated to plenty of LSD-laced aural trips. 'Why Why' has a striking similarity to George Harrison's 'Wah Wah' during the chorus with just the right amount of reverb to make you think you're listening to the album being played inside a grain silo. 'Cola Elixir' sounds like The Black Angels scoring Surf Nazis Must Die. 'Electric Hawaii' is a trippy instrumental that leads into 'Outer Space', a slowed-down jam that would've sounded just fine on the Zombies' Odyssey and Oracle. 'Inhaler Song' ends this great album on a somber note. Like a funeral dirge played through a vacuum, this is Opossom at their Tame Impala-best.

This is a half hour of freaked-out, acid bubblegum pop bliss that you won't mind flashbacks from.

Even at age 41, I still enjoy discovering new music. Friends consider me a bit of a music snob. This is one of my favorite albums of the last five years or so.give them a listen. Cola Elixer is the track that intoduced them to me, but entire album is great.