Sourpatch - Crushin’ (HHBTM Records) This band is so wrongly named. Far from being sour, or patchy, they are the opposite in their attempt to recreate the carefree music of yesteryear. Maybe they should have a name that incorporates their blithe spirit, and captures their romantic freedom of articulated noise. Although the opening half-minute conversation between kid and mum which introduces the band is, at best, a little dumb, pay it no heed as you are immediately flung into some pretty neat indie rock that could have been culled from the ‘90s, that space then that was occupied so finely by the likes of Throwing Muses, Blake Babies and all those oddly lovable bands on K Records. And there is a bit of Sleater Kinney in there too, but less raucous and more tuneful, but just as frenetic. It’s vivacious music, pouncing along rather than pounding, driven by some pretty frantic guitar and drums for the most part, as a lot of the aforementioned music thrived on back in those halcyon days. The vocals are slender but sincere, not meant to be overtly strong, but with an underlying resilience that carries these 11 eclectic songs, on past the homage paddock, and right into the meadows beyond. Sourpatch have found their own special place in this new decade of music, and with a little bit of luck you will hear their songs and (no doubt) join them there. www.myspace.co./sourpatchpop Kev A. Sourpatch – I Want You Either Way Next