How can this be? You think you know your music inside out - there are thousands of bands out there that you've heard of, even if you haven't heard anything by them.

I remember it was like this when I first heard REM's 'Green' album, I couldn't believe that I'd missed out on their five previous albums. And so it is with Luna – a New York based, indie rock quartet who have sprung this Best Of on me without me neither hearing of them nor hearing a note by them, and they've released seven albums!

What a waste! This seventeen track compilation is really very good and has left me thinking 'I must hear more of these'. Drawing heavily from the band's 'Penthouse and 'Bewitched' albums, guest musicians include Television's Tom Verlaine, but, more importantly, Sterling Morrison of the Velvet Underground, which gives a far better indication of the influences and the sound of Luna.

The 'Venus In Furs' era Velvet's influence is probably the most noticeable, but there are also important touchstones such as REM and the space rock credentials of Aussie favourites of mine, The Church.

Top tracks include California (All The Way), Chinatown, Superfreaky Memories, Lovedust and, my own standout, Anesthesia.

As with most things in life, just as you discover something really good, it disappears. Luna had their farewell tour last year. Fortunately, they have left a body of work that I can now set about tracking down. Great!

****

Review by Alan Jones