It has, granted, been a funny old sort of summer. Here then comes its perfect accompaniment. And with a harsh south-westerly breeze-cum-tropical-storm unexpectedly blowing The Thrills’ sophomore effort half the way toward winter there seems to be little direct competition for The Zillions. Though this is just the kind of ray-soaked indie that would have clambered its way to the top in high season ’86, whipped up nice with an eclecticism that suits us down to the ground today, rather than ending up the metaphorical equivalent of the novelty chancer in a Never Mind the Buzzcocks line up featuring Gerard Love (do your own homework). They don’t make summer indie albums like they used to. There’s the Polyphonic Spree these days of course, but that’s all a bit active-service in the sun worship department. What about the carefree strum-alongs that meant nothing and everything and made you dance like they may take away your fringe when the music stopped?
The Zillions is the work of one single megalomaniac Aussie, Nick Craft, or for short N.Craft, not to be confused with brother and 679 labelmate M.Craft, who is basically just a more fucked up version of this here sibling. As he piles into ‘Don’t Waste Your Tears On Me’, opening this 6 track mini-album like a lost classic ‘Come On Feel The Lemonheads’ track that isn’t quite ‘Great Big No’ has just been freshly unearthed, it’s magic, pure and simple. It’s like he’s taken something away from you in a moment of hedonism that you’re never getting back. Across the remaining 5 tracks we hear tweaks as though they were administered by the Beta Band, Teenage Fanclub, The original Byrds, Pavement and Jimmy Page. ‘Step Into The Sun’, appropriately enough, is a sparkling standout like Stephen Malkmus leading The Fannies. And clocking in at just over 22 minutes, it’s the perfect length album too. I mean, who wants to sit around listening to music, even this good, when there’s sun to soak up, eh? It wouldn’t hurt to wear your wellies though…