Hoodoo Gurus: Ampology

Reviewed by GRAHAM REID

Herald rating: * * * *

Powerstation favourites in the old days, Dave Faulkner and his offsiders rarely sprung radio-troubling hits (their timeless and much-covered I Want You Back might be the only one most remember) but they provided crisp rock which straddled punk, power pop, 50s rock'n'roll and even 80s new wave.

This 40-track double disc sums up their move from garage to studio to mid-level arenas through material which was memorable, Australian (Tojo Never Made It to Darwin, and Miss Freelove 69 which opens "you can't take me anywhere. I'll strip down to my underwear if you give me half a chance") and terrifically self-referential in a "Hey hey we're the Monkees" kind of way (Be My Guru).

Twice as stacked as their Electric Soup singles collection of a few years back, this also includes a joyous live version of A Hard Day's Night alongside their memorable What's My Scene? and dozens of songs which rarely broke the four-minute mark.

Hats off to the Hoodoos who knew how to play to a party, and wrote a great tribute to actor Gene Hackman.

(EMI)