Mexico City – Brown Bird (+1 Records) Why a band from Australia, with all those huge open spaces, would want to call themselves after the third most populated city on earth I really do not know. Why call their sophomore album after a small flying 'thing' is also anyone’s guess. But these things do not matter one tiny jot. What we have here are four very exciting musicians who have conjured eleven songs of incandescent garage / spiky blues for your living room listening. This is some record, people. With Adam Toole’s vocals carving out a patch in Caleb Followill’s territory (no bad thing), and Simon Radich’s searing yet melodic guitar, you also get the band glue of Ben Carstens on drums and bass player Tanzie. They are all worth mentioning because I haven’t heard a band so tight in a very long time. So, Brisbane’s best kept secret? Well, hell yes! They have to be! And they may well stay that way, with their innocuous band and album names, and the rather plain (if expertly drawn) cover artwork. Now, what a great shame that would be… this is one fine band awaiting your discovery. The best thing to come out of Australia since the Sand Pebbles - and they are brilliant! www.myspace.com/mexicocitytheband Kev A. Next