Pell Mell: Star City

From every type of rock scene you can put a name to comes Pell Mell, an unusual instrumental band that defies categorization for the best possible reason: utter originality. Its organ/guitar/bass/drum sound is pleasant but not obtrusive, and the arrangements are clean, sparse, engaging, and full of easy power. Pell Mell isn't, however, surfy or atmospheric like instrumental counterparts Man…Or Astro-Man or Scenic, respectively. Instead, the group likes to choose a theme or groove or musical idea and stick with it, balancing melody and countermelody to create something different from the usual vocal-less run: It's post-punk chamber music, using a variety of moods and sounds to be by turns evocative and understated. Star City is about little bits and pieces of composition, and it's full of wonderful things that can only happen when a talented group of musicians forgets about the baggage of traditional rock and concentrates on making music. This one will grow on you.