Ghost Wave: Ghost Wave (Arch Hill)

With some of the momentum of their labelmates the Clean, urgent droning vocals and pure psychedelic guitar jangle, this debut EP by the Auckland-based three-piece touches a lot of familiar places – you could add JPSE and some of the Manchester guitar bands to those reference points – but they do it with such economy and style it comes off as joyous . . . and the sound of a band on a mission.

The first single from this peppy seven-song collection is the shimmering, unashamedly poppy Sunsetter which lifts its sights from shoe-gazing into a summery swirl of guitars and airy vocals, and the longest piece here – at just four minutes – is the darker psyched-out trip of Mood Ring which sounds closer to Krautrock of the Seventies.

They aren't afraid to pull themselves back for Shade (the Clean/David Kilgour with surf guitar), then let fly with the quasi-industrial attack of the thrilling Hippy at the end which is urgent rock and – like everything here – doesn't outstay its welcome.

Tight, smart and more than just the sum of their influences, this is a band with an impressive and wide-ranging debut which more than just hints at the better which will undoubtedly come.

From the trippy opener Sounds, they delivers on all fronts.

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