SEX AND FLAGS

Not too many of my all-time faves from the '60s and '70s are even still around, much less making some of the most terrific, vibrant and melody-rich music of a career that goes back to 1970. Stackridge is such an animal.

Stackridge have often been tagged as a west country (as in U.K.) Beatles as much of the melodic invention of the Fabs ca. Magical Mystery Tour & the White Album is still clearly at play in their music. But with sawing violins and twittering flutes also in the mix, they also get lumped under the prog folk tag (as they are here at PA). Perhaps the more ambiguous prog-related is more appropo for Stackridge.

Labeling nonewithstanding, here's a band, reunited for the second time in this case, with both of their main songwriters (Andy Davis and James Warren) each still coming up with the goods after all this time. Always loved bands that had more than one prolific songwriter as that inevitably raised the bar for some great material on some really good albums. It sure does here with Sex and Flags.

This album is actually a compilation of the best tunes from their two most recent releases (1999's Something For the Weekend and 2003's Lemon EP). With quite a few gigs and a new album on tap for 2009, looks like we've got some rare Stackridge momentum going on that will hopefully hit paydirt for them.

In the meantime, jump on Sex and Flags as a great intro to the thoroughly wonderful Stackridge. And then work your way back. A 4.5 from me.