Chelsea Light Moving, Matador ****

Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore's last solo album was Demolished Thoughts, a haunting suite of acoustic rock. His new band could scarcely be more different. This is good news for anyone fond of Sonic Youth's more abrasive tendencies, because Chelsea Light Moving is dominated by the three-pronged attack of Moore and Keith Wood's scuzz-laden guitars and Samara Lubelski's gut-punching bass. Ninety seconds into the excellent Sleeping Where I Fall, feet stamp on pedals and the breezy jangle melts into a torrent of overdriven guitars. Further noisy thrills are to be found on the rollicking Burroughs and Empires of Time's proggy metal, while Groovy Linda is an eerie ode to a pair of doomed hippies. Chelsea Light Moving is raw, loud evidence that Moore is still more than acquainted with the joys of rocking out. matadorrecords.com

Download:Burroughs, Sleeping Where I Fall, Groovy Linda