Mnnqns Pacific Trash Patch

Despite the rather late date of 1977, the fusion influences are minimal, and as a whole sounds like organ funk you'd find on a Prestige album but far more raw and less polished. The highlight is the 20+ minute title number that weaves, bobs, and scorches with a sound that has been described as "Headhunters on mushrooms", full-on with the overblown flute and organ.

The idea of this Aussie project, based in Melbourne, was conceived by producer Peter Dawkins, who gathered a line-up of rock veterans and session musicians to play music inspired by the four elements of the Zodiac:Spectrum and Ariel's Mike Rudd on guitars, keyboardist Tony Esterman, New Zealander Rod Coe on bass, Folk singer Mike McClellan on acoustic guitar and drummer Doug Gallacher, later of Madden & Harris…

PBII was formed in 2008, as a continuation of Dutch outfit Plackband. Plackband members Tom van der Meulen (drums), Michel van Wassem (lead vocals, keyboards) and Ronald Brautigam (Guitars & backing vocals) wanted to expand and modernize the stylistic expressions previously explored with Plackband, and when they met bassist Harry den Hartog they encountered a fellow musician sharing their newfound musical visions: to create music inspired by acts like Frost and Porcupine Tree, but also incorporating elements from jazz-rock and neo progressive symphonic rock.

The four-disc set Surf-Age Nuggets: Trash & Twang Instrumentals 1959-1966 plays like the flip side to Rhino's classic surf music box set Cowabunga!, and for good reason: that set's co-producer, James Austin, helmed this project, and his passion and encyclopedic knowledge of surf music from its greats to its most obscure acts is a big part of what makes this collection such a thrill. Where Cowabunga! concentrated on surf's stars, Surf-Age Nuggets digs deep; for every song by Dick Dale, there are many more by lesser-known but just as devoted acts such as the Ramrods, the Telstars, the Mosriters, and the Elite U.F.O. (!).