In the Time of the Sabre-Toothed Tiger

If the debut from Melbourne garage rock combo Power Supply sounds a bit familiar, it's for good reason. In all but name, the group is essentially a reunion of cult favorites the Ooga Boogas, who ceased operations in the early 2010s. Since the Boogas went their separate ways, the bandmembers have contributed to an eclectic spread of Aussie underground groups ranging from Total Control and Drug Sweat to Eddy Current Suppression Ring. When chief songwriter Leon Stackpole's solo project started to gain some momentum, he began staffing his touring band one by one with former Boogas. All of a sudden, the original quartet were back in action, but with a slightly modified sound and a fresh batch of songs. Relaunching themselves as Power Supply, the band offer up In the Time of the Sabre-toothed Tiger, a punchy set that merges their previous outfit's freewheeling spirit with some pop jangle and laid-back cool. Stackpole's casual Lou Reed-ian delivery coasts nimbly across standouts like the thumping "Infinity" and the post-punk of "Conservative Instincts." Amid the more raucous tracks are softer experiments like the shimmering "Infinity and 90" and the expansive title cut, making for a rather varied set. There's a pleasantly organic feel to the whole proceeding that feels remarkably fresh, given the players' long history together. Chalk it up to chemistry or the fact that they still know how to have fun playing together. Either way, Power Supply exude veteran presence and rookie energy in equal measure. ~ Timothy Monger