Plugging the gap between albums two and three (which, according to their website, they are holed up somewhere recording right now) comes an album of Vetiver covering artists from the late 60s era they really, really wish they lived in.

Vetiver have the scarce ability to produce a lullaby and a rhythmic pounder with equal aplomb, as To Find Me Gone exhibited so well. Here, Andy Cabic selects songs to show off both sides of Vetiver’s powers. Label-mate Vashti Bunyan pops up to do vocals on the very sweet ‘Sleep a Million Years’, while later on they cover arguably the only decent Hawkwind song there is, the stoner anthem ‘Hurry On Sundown’. Indeed, it’s the only track that feels it could be one of Vetiver’s own. Other highlights include Loudon Wainwright’s ‘The Swimming Song’ and ‘Houses’, an obscure gem by lost 60s chanteuse Elyse Weinberg.

It’s Vetiver so it’s gorgeous, but the fact remains that Thing Of The Past is plugging that aforementioned gap, with more exciting things afoot for this peerless band.

Barnaby Smith