When it first appeared, Fast Japanese Spin Cycle was among the first releases from this obscure, home-recording Dayton, Ohio combo to receive national attention, and it set the stage for their major ascent among power pop fans with 1994's Bee Thousand. This EP is a quick, to-the-point tour de force. No track lasts long enough to exhaust its welcome and the lo-fi quality of the home four-track cassette machine adds to the mystery and appeal, as Robert Pollard's vocals shimmer and shake as if transmitting from another world altogether. "Indian Fables" barely lasts more than half a minute. "Volcano Divers" is an exercise in GBV psychedelic minimalism. "My Impression" has all the makings of a classic hit single that never was. The version of "Marchers In Orange," a tune that appeared in weaker form on their album Vampire On Titus, captures the band's irreverent, drunken approach, as does the toy piano-based "3rd World Birdwatching." GBV would go to record an entire library of songs. However, they'd never again capture this perfect confluence of naïve energy and savvy pop smarts.

iTunes

Spotify

Share