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ECLIPSO - HERO & VILLAIN IN ONE MAN

A very interesting project & it's hard to separate fact from fiction here, but US based act Eclipso, has one unshakeable fact, the music here is outstanding. The sounds take the feel of quite a few different bands from across the years, but the over riding thing that grabs you are both the vocals & the pop sensibilities of the songs.

Opening up is "Long After Long", which took me way back to the days of R.E.M., with the vocals reminding me of early Michael Stipe, while the music reminded me of a cross between that band with just a smidgen of The B52s. There are some outstanding moments here, such as the wonderful "I've Got A Feeling", which is a slightly quieter affair, as well as "I'll Get By" & the brilliant closing number that picks up the pace again, "Kill The Night". The whole album pulls together seamlessly & there has been a lot of hard work go into this project - let me tell you, it was worth it.

For more information, write to Death Barney Records, PO Box 712010, Los Angeles, CA 900717010, USA or bruce@deathbarney.com

ENDICHE VIS.SAT - THE BEST OF

Almost certainly the first thing that's arrived here for review via Lithuania, from a self described 'experimental' band. The band seems as though there may be a significantly changing number of members, with live performances, attendees may see up to 10 musicians, with different instruments ranging from banjo to violin, so there's definitely something different about the sound as you might imagine.

The opening track here is "Kleboniskhis", which contains quite a number of different instruments, but one that sounds in particular like an accordion, sounding a little 'folky' in style, but contrasting quite a lot from "Introduction". A more chaotic affair is "Kernave", though the pick here is "Her Closed Eyes", which is a stunning listening experience & by far the best track here. If you want to hear something very different from what you're used to, this outfit will most certainly provide it.

For more information, write to Ziemiu 28a-38, 3031, Kaunas, Lithuania or r@delfi.lt

GODBOY - MELLOW NOMA

Okay, it may be lo-fi in sound, but the effort s there & it's a very cool if somewhat eclectic album that deserves a good hard listen, as it pretty well rocks out with some very different songs that will no doubt attract a lot of different listeners.

There are some outstanding moments & even more outstanding titles to some of the songs here, with the closer "Rock On, Fat Elvis", that really kicks along, though my personal favourite stands head & shoulders above, "Fats Raises A Shotgun", a slow burn with great raw guitars & vocals. A couple of other very cool standouts include "I'm No Diva" & "How Many Miles", which is an all too short piece. Not so slick on the production, but the songs more than make up for that.

For more information, write to Godboy@orangeentropy.com

JONATHAN DANIEL - (SELF TITLED)

A singer songwriter out of the US, Jonathan Daniel's music is certainly varied in so far as his own styles go & he's looking both for his own music to get out there as well as to write songs for others, depending I guess on how his own material is received.

There's a distinctly mainstream feel about the songs on this 4 track demo, all of which do have echoes in some of what's been riding high on the charts over the last 18 months or so. Off man out here is "Limit's On God", which has a little bit of a hip hop feel, but the pick for me is "Don't Be Scared", which not only has a great instrumental running behind, but the vocals really hook you into the song itself. It'll be an interesting evolution from here.

For more information, write to 225 Barner St, Apt 24, Ferdyce, AR 71742, USA

LARA STEPHEN - DEEP DEAD BLUE

The debut outing from West Australian singer songwriter Lara Stephen is certainly a polished & very accomplished affair. There are some very strong tracks here, with some very effective melodies, but it's obvious that the vocals are the focus right across the album.

A significant proportion of the songs heavily feature acoustic guitar backing & the finest example here is the marvellous "Blue Rain", which is my favourite track here, though coming a close second is the closing track "Same Without You". Other notable moments include the outstanding guitar on "Sometimes", as well as "No Life Guarantee", but in the end, the winner is definitely the listener. A big future ahead I suspect.

For more information, write to PO Box 678, Inglewood, WA 6932, Australia or moreinfo@larastephen.com

TOMMY JAY - TALL TALES OF TRAUMA

A pretty lo fidelity sound here, along with some interesting & eclectic sounds that really fit the production here, with some very rough edges there, but some equally interesting songs that go some way to overcoming that particular burden.

An interesting parallel between the Midnight Oil song Harrisburg in feel is apparent on "Moving To Harrisburg", but I'm quite certain that's purely coincidental. A few others that stand up to be noticed are "Lust Honour & Love", "I Was There" & "Village Idiot". It's certainly an album that'll be an acquired taste, but take a listen & see what you reckon for yourself.

For more information, write to info@orangeentropy.com

WHERE ECHOES END - MY SWEET GROTESQUE

A great album from a Victorian based 4 piece called Where Echoes End, the band have had quite a distressing history prior to this release & I guess it's something of a tribute to the band's persistence that they've managed to release this album, the band's second.

Apparently differing from their earlier material, the sound here is a little bit gothic in feel, reminding me of a band some may remember called Shakespeare's Sister. The production here is almost surgically clean, which makes this album a real head turner the first few songs.

There are some great songs here, from the outset of "Make Up Your Mind", which opens, through to the more poppy sound of "rOMANTIC FICTION" (their typing not mine), as well as "No One I Know" & "Jesus Stole My Love". A pretty outstanding release & it's a wonder we haven't heard a little more of this band.

For more information, write to 2 Auravale Rd, Menzies Creek, VIC 3159, Australia or echoes@myplace.net.au

WOMEN OF TROY - I'D LIKE TO BE A LION

Coming out of Sydney, indie trio Women Of Troy's sound is quite energetic, pulling together well set vocals & a great guitar section, as well as some superb percussion, which is very notable on one of the songs here in particular. Not an easy band to tie down to a particular comparison, but there's definitely a few bands that came to mind.

The opening track "Nova" is a cracker, grabbing a high energy sound & putting it to music, with the vocals on this track the real focal point, while there seems more of a focus on the guitars of "Mercenaries", the most aggressive sounding track of the lot here. Pick for me though is "Somebody", which is the killer cut & it's here that the band manage to pull it all together in excellent fashion, the whole song just clicking & I can see the crowd moving as one when this one pops out at their gigs. A very strong debut that will no doubt see the band stronger at their next release.

For more information, write to womenoftroy@yahoo.com