Inspiral Carpets are an alternative rock band from Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. Formed by Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt in 1983 their sound is based around psychedelic organs and guitars.

Between 1989 and 1995, the band notched up 15 hits and four Top 20 albums before disbanding. In 2003, they re-formed and have been playing sporadically ever since.

Self-recorded in the final three days of 1987, the sessions that became Dung 4 were originally intended to be released as their debut album. But word (legend) has it that when some of the guys decided to re-record some of the tracks for 1988's Plane Crash EP, all Hell then broke loose!

Lead singer Stephen Holt and bassist David Swift each left the band, before a run of singles featuring their replacements - Tom Hingley and Martyn Walsh - hit the UK indie charts in 1989.

Available that May for a limited time on cassette at gigs and via mail order, Dung 4's 8,000 copies were long gone by the time Life - their debut album proper - was pipped to the UK #1 spot in 1990.

So, to finally have this incredible piece of history back in our hands, albeit on CD and not vinyl (as that would have been just perfect to spin) this true flashback of an album kicks-off with the carousel-feel of 'Keep the Circle Around,' before heading into the psychedelic 'Seeds Of Doubt' and the raw 'Joe.' The early REM-sounding 'Causeway' is next and is backed by the frenetic 'Inside My Head' and then the more sedate 'Sun Don't Shine.'

The rollercoaster, drum-fused ride of 'Theme From Cow' is followed by the guitar-based 'Butterfly' and then '26.' Officially sanctioned by the Inspirals and remastered with help from their organist Clint Boon the next track is the playful beats of 'Garage Full of Flowers.' The old school hammond organ propels the brilliant Rudy Martinez-written '96 Tears' which brings the original album to a close.

But this newly-released CD has four (4) bonus tracks, in The Stranglersesque 'Head For the Sun,' the acid fuzz of 'Now You're Gone,' and then both 'Whisky' and 'Love Can Never Lose Its Own.'

Reviewed by: Russell A. Trunk