The mostly acoustic duo
Tompot Blenny (obscurely named after a small intertidal fish) released two of the first five singles on the Sarah Records offshoot Shinkanshen in 1996, then laid low for nearly a full half-decade before finally releasing their first album,
Found Under Blankets, in November 2000. On the album, singer Carl and guitarist Craig (in true Sarah fashion, they're identified only by their first names) are joined by new drummer Alan. Similarly, the acoustic jangle and breathy harmonies of earlier songs like "The Short-Haired Girl in the Left-Legged Pineapple" is enriched though not replaced by a greater emphasis on electric guitars and a more prominent rhythm section. "Don't Let Her Know" and the tender title track are in the languid style of the earlier material, while other songs, especially the fully electric and almost rocking "Real Life Scooby Doo," are more energized. The combination works quite well, avoiding the sort of listener fatigue an entire album of twee little acoustic miniatures can bring on. ~ Stewart Mason