Lite Hits

This incarnation of Sukpatch was quite different from the one that eventually signed with the defunct Grand Royal label. Chris Heidman and Stephen Cruze put the music together, but at this point the band was fronted by a girl identified only as Tara. The layering of her helium-assisted vocals accentuated the '60s girl group roots of the band, at the expense of the indie hip-hop flavor that came later. Calling this cassette-only release lo-fi is an understatement, as the cheap four-track production makes Sebadoh's Weed Forestin sound like it was recorded by Alan Parsons. Somehow, though, the emotion and charm manage to rise above the layers of hiss and tape speed fluctuations. It's best to think of Lite Hits as a crude mix tape from a friend, complete with pointless TV snippets, silly 30-second fragments, and a handful of fine songs. "Mexico City Big Vacation" is a big-hearted romp through Go-Go's territory, with a punchy vocal hook and memorable bassline. "Hickory Tips" is a short, bittersweet instrumental that helped set the tone for the entire Slabco sound, and "Chloride" sounds like Lou Reed's "I'll Be Your Mirror" covered by the Dixie Cups. Lite Hits is a poor introduction to Sukpatch, but this rare early release offers the chance to hear this underrated indie pop band in embryonic form. ~ Mark Richardson