Truckload of Trouble (1986-1993)

An anthology of material drawn from EPs and singles across 1986 to 1993, Truckload of Trouble makes a great case for The Pastels’ mastery of those formats. The earlier singles compiled here, such as “Crawl Babies,” “Comin’ Through” and “Truck Train Tractor”, are among The Pastels’ finest moments, particularly the gnarly drone-rock of the latter, its insouciant attitude the perfect kiss-off for anyone who’d dare reduce them to being a C86 ‘indie’ group – this is rock as fierce and brilliantly simple as the New York Dolls or Simply Saucer. The later material, recorded by the Pastels hardcore of Stephen Pastel, Aggi (Annabel Wright) and Katrina Mitchell, is lush and poetic, deeply felt pop that’s learned the lessons of emotional disarmament from the likes of Jad Fair (who appears here, on the ghostly “Dark Side of Your World”) and Daniel Johnston (whose “Speeding Motorcycle” they cover, excellently).