Various Artists: New Zealand @ 33⅓, Volume One (Frenzy CD)

Just when you thought archivist Grant Gillanders couldn't find any new material to excavate from the Sixties he taps another vein of local nuggets.

More on that recent discovery as it comes to hand – it's a cracker and unexpectedly raw.

But meantime here's an interesting repackaging of deep cuts and obscurities: 33 tracks lifted from albums by the likes of the Merseymen, Librettos, La De Da's, Underdogs and the Rebels alongside the more mainstream entertainers Peter Posa, Dinah Lee, Mr Lee Grant (Coal Man is a strange one, are we being told something subtextual?), Sandy Edmonds, Allison Durban and Jay Epae (with the original version of Tumblin' Down made famous by Maria Dallas).

No one here gets their hits (or hits, plural) included, these are album tracks – Gillanders thoughtfully identifies the album, most of which he has reissued.

It's a selection which might take its lead from the title of the opener by Lyn Barnett, Roller Coaster.

It's certainly a ride which shows either the diversity of New Zealand pop in the Sixties or just how shapeless the era was.

There is music rooted in the early pre-Beatles period like the instrumental Honey Bee (Peter Posa in furious form), Dream Lover (a paint-stripping, roughed up version of the bland Bobby Darin pop standard delivered by Dinah Lee), Yo Yo (Allison Durbin) and some straight-ahead Beat-pop (the Merseymen, of course, with You're Never Satisfied).

There is also tougher pop and blues rock: Main Line Driver by the Underdogs; Love Potion #9 (Freddie Keil and the Kavaliers); the presciently tough Everything's Alright (the Rayders from '62, anticipating the Beatles); Jump Back by the enraged La De Da's; Without You by Max Merritt and the Meteors getting into Muddy Water's territory, not entirely successfully; Yes Indeed and Now You Shake (Ray Columbus and the Invaders) and Mr Lee Grant (Coal Man, again we say there's something else being said here); the Pleazers' Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore; the Fourmyula (Try Me) . . .

The psychedelic era from later in the decade also sneaks in with the Hi-Revving Tongues' take on Procol Harum's Conquistador, the Fourmyula's Bang on Harry (from their Green B Holiday), the Avengers' Summer Set Morning and others.

For every weaker moment like the Librettos' I'm Gonna Say Yeah there are four or five songs well worth hearing.

And the hook here is that this stacked full collection – 33 songs, 80 minutes – is a bargain, it is in Frenzy's budget price range.

Check out the posted track by Dinah Lee. Crazy wild.

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This is only available on CD from good record stores. Try JB Hi-Fi stores.

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