Various - Pop Volume 4

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 13 / 7 / 2004

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Review

POPnews can be relied upon to lead indie fans on the right path towards great unheard of music. This is their fourth compilation album, in a series where the French based website presents exclusive tracks from some of its favourite artists. Pennyblackmusic has long been an admirer of their knack for plucking out quality listens, and is happy to report that this is another triumph. In fact, I would go as far as to say this might be the highlight of the series. There is not enough room to detail every artist and every compilation, but I will say that they range from electronica to indiepop to lo-fi to alt country, and there is even room for some underground hip-hop. Most compilations can’t be listened to all the way through, but this I can. Of course, some tracks are better than others. That’s a given. But even the songs with weak melodies all have something in their favour, be it a good guitar line, or a quirky singing style or a good hook. There’s not one song that isn’t worth listening to. Some are already firm favourites, particularly McEnroe’s hip hop tour de force, 'Wandering Eye' and the National’s brilliant 'About Today'. If you are the sort of person that likes to read Pennyblackmusic then you are the sort of person the good folk at POPnews are aiming at too. This compilation, whilst probably harming your bank balance as you seek out the full length albums from these bands, is a great investment for your ears. Enjoy…

Track Listing:-

1 Trash Pop Music- Reflect
2 Studio- Shake U Down By The River
3 Maarten- At A Copenhagen Theatre
4 Mcenroe- Wandering Eye
5 Fabio Viscogliosi- Cari Angeli Revisited
6 Barbara Manning & The Go-Luckys!- Dreaming
7 The Bitter Springs- Big Sweaty Dad
8 Ursula- Que El Caos Se Apiade De Ti
9 The National- About Today
10 The Temporary Thing- Jean-Paul Belmondo
11 Maison Neuve- Your Go-Between
12 Sundayer- Pebble Shore
13 The High Llamas- 2 Part Byke
14 Crashing Dreams- Uppercut
15 Sheraf- Luna Pitoli
16 Strand- Ladan Ladeh
17 Cavil And The Transpennine DT- Handing Down
18 The Portal- Jesus From The Block