Matt Murphy and The Super Friendz have reformed. After a six year 
hiatus, the band released their latest CD, "Love Energy" in Canada on 
June 24th.  The record was produced by former Thrush Hermit bassist Ian 
McGettigan, who has worked with Murphy's band The Flashing Lights and 
The Joel Plaskett Emergency. The guitar-pop of their earlier albums is 
still in evidence on "Love Energy" with its precise melodies and 
abundant harmony. Murphy stated in a recent interview that "one 
difference that people will see between the last records we've made and 
this one is it's less an homage to sixties pop and better reflects our 
record collections. It's a lot more seventies new wave. There's no 
keyboards. That's kind of a rule we made when we came into the studio 
this time. It's guitar driven but we're also focused on the rhythm too 
and Kraftwerk ideas without the keyboards." Apparently, The Flashing 
Lights are on hold. The Super Friendz were a product of the mid-90s 
Halifax pop explosion that included bands such as Sloan, Cool Blue Halo, 
and Jale.

    -- Kelly