Written by: Alex Green

The only good thing about lost music is when it’s found.

A recent example of this is Prefab Sprout’s Let’s Change The World With Music album that was recorded in 1991 but shelved for eighteen years before head Sprout Paddy McAloon released it in 2009. The late, great Jasmine Minks have a similar story. The four songs that comprise the Poppy White EP were originally passed on by Creation and ended up on ice, where they’ve sat since 1992. Given a good 2010 thawing—and dedicated to now deceased ‘Minks, Fooksy and Mark Scars–they sound as fresh and vital as ever.

Fooksy (real name: Robert Greig) handles vocals on the title track and the results are nothing short of infectious. Boasting a muscular jangle and a snarling hook-filled chorus, “Poppy White” is particularly winning. But then again, so is every track here, so picking favorites is futile.  “Distraction” (with longtime ‘Mink Jim Shepherd on vocals) sounds young and tough and thoroughly melodic, while “Dead And Gone” is masterfully played with the perfect balance of sinewy nerve and imploring vulnerability.

Ending these proceedings is the Fooksy-helmed “Rain” which is a shimmering blast of soulful indie rock that punches mightily away with all the harmonic timelessness of a true classic.