These Australian power-poppers obviously watched way too much TV stoned - with this album dedicated to characters from Get Smart, F-Troop and Petticoat Junction. Their debut gets the whole bridging the 60s with the 80s thing down pat. The Australian cover art is Welch-ian (Raquel) and the rest just pure bitchin' babe.
Buy Amazon
Treasure The Cocteau Twins 1984 [4AD]
Although Elizabeth Fraser's vocals are virtually incomprehensible, they are gorgeous trimming to the cascade of dreamy ambience emanating from Robin Guthrie's effects-laden guitars. With bassist Simon Raymonde on board Treasure represents the group's artistic peak, eventually finding success with 1990's Heaven or Las Vegas.
Buy Amazon
Psychocandy The Jesus and Mary Chain 1985 [Blanco y Negro]
This is what happens when a bunch of wild Glasgow lads slow down a distorted punk beat, toss in some Beach Boys-influenced vocals and record it Phil Spector wall-of-sound style. The band's very brief live shows often ended in violence after playing with backs to the audience. Prototypical shoegazing both live and in the studio.
Buy Amazon
Up on the Sun Meat Puppets 1985 [SST]
For their third album Meat Puppets mellowed from the hardcore punk thrash of their debut to playing delightfully quirky cowpunk psych. The only ear-basher here is 'Maiden's Milk', while elsewhere the Arizona trio prove their influence on the likes of Dinosaur Jr, Nirvana, Pavement and Soundgarden. A classic album with a legion of cult devotees.
Buy Amazon
Fegmania! Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians 1985 [Midnight Music]
After the demise of the Soft Boys, English singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock made a string of fine solo albums. Many, like the classic I Often Dream of Trains (1984), were primarily acoustic affairs. This tripped-out effort fronting the Egyptians features some sonic production driving Hitchcock's typically quirky songs.
Buy Amazon
Kaleidoscope World The Chills 1987 [Flying Nun]
The most important proponent of New Zealand's early-80s 'Dunedin Sound' - a minimalist type of lo-fi new wave jangle-pop. Mainstay Martin Phillipps has seen so many lineup changes he has lost count. The delightful Kaleidoscope World is their most psychedelic work, gathering together all the group's early singles and EP appearances.
Buy Amazon
Starfish The Church 1988 [Arista]
Australian 'new wave' band that never quite fit the mould because of their neo-psychedelic guitar-driven style. After a rocky road early-on, the band landed in LA's unfamiliar surroundings to record Starfish for Arista records. The album and the dreamy single 'Under the Milky Way' would prove to be their commercial breakthrough.
Buy Amazon
On Fire Galaxie 500 1989 [Rough Trade]
A genuine indie gem once described as "lo-fi psychedelia". Coming out of Boston's Harvard University, this sophomore effort finds the group maturing musically. Mark Kramer's production is again the magic ingredient, with the album performing well on the UK indie charts. Also good is the trio's debut effort, Today, from the previous year.
