Two-Way Mirror Recreation ***

Talk about wearing your influences on your sleeve. The new album from Californians Crystal Antlers features a cover drawing by Raymond Pettibon, the artist behind Sonic Youth's famous Gooalbum cover. As on the outside, so it is on the inside. Here you'll find songs that reference grunge, surf rock, mellow folk and avant-garde pop. When the experimentation works (on Jules' Story, Summer Solsticeand Knee Deep), you'll experience something approximating the thrill of the week – think art rock with depth, clarity and tunes. Some of the material doesn't do Crystal Antlers any favours, however – the noise/drone of Sun-Bleachedand the (cue shivers down your spine) free-jazz saxophone fills of Always Afraid. An ambitious album with interesting textures – and, in its own small way, quietly defiant and proud. See crystalantlers.com

Download tracks: Knee Deep, Summer Solstice