For a band that only put out a modest handful of singles twenty years ago, Black Tambourine‘s unadulterated noise pop jams turned out to be one hell of a crystal ball. Circa 1989, I was in utero and members of twee gaze start ups Whorl and Velocity Girl had just recruited singer Pam Berry (whom I for some reason remember being much more attractive than in the above picture) to form a new project. It was an outlet to fuse together their obsessions with The Jesus & Mary Chain, the Ronettes, and efficient garage rock. Previously available as 1999′s Complete Recordings, this new anthology on their original label Slumberland contains six previously unreleased jams, including four new ones that the reunited band recorded for this specific occasion. There’s even a cover of my favorite Suicide song “Dream Baby Dream” and Buddy Holly’s “Heart Beat”. This is no carrot in the face of recession-weary completionists, it’s the perfect introduction for newcomers, and some long needed closure for fans. Also, Black Tambourine will now be available for the first time on vinyl.

Black Tambourine will be available in all it’s overdue glory March 30th on Slumberland Records.

MP3 :::
Black Tambourine – Black Car
Black Tambourine – Throw Aggi Off the Bridge