Supergroove: Postage: The Best Of

Reviewed by RUSSELL BAILLIE

Herald rating: * * * *

While listening to this retrospective on the Auckland band's short but locally spectacular career, it is curious to reflect.

Recording-wise it lasted just four years between 1992 and 1996 but they made a bigger mark than that time, especially live. They were an inspiration to many in the new generation of local bands, and were the launchpad for one Mr Che-Fu.

The two-CD collection's first disc is mainly the hits, a few album tracks and what feels like a few band favourites from their B-sides. The second are some contemporary remixes and live tracks from their global excursions.

Hearing it now, it is a reminder how much growing up they did in that short time, from the feelgood funk of You Gotta Know, the verbal assault of Can't Get Enough, through to the Godzilla-stomp blues of You Freak Me and Next Time (which still sounds like Aussies Hunters and Collectors getting their mojo stolen by some punks from Ponsonby), then into the brief post-Che period on which they sounded like a 90s Split Enz.

Not all of it is essential -- the cover of the Eurhythmics' Missionary Man is bit of an in-joke -- but the 2003 remix of For Whatever sounds like a summer hit in the making. Otherwise, altogether now: Scorpio-orpio-orpio-orpio girls ...

(BMG)