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Written by Rebecca Reardon Thursday, 29 November 2007 02:35

29 head-bobbing, toe-tapping tracks that last anywhere from 35 seconds to just barely over two minutes.

You crave new music. You have the attention span of a gnat. Hey, your dream CD is here! Environ Maiden by The Capstan Shafts features 29 head-bobbing, toe-tapping tracks that last anywhere from 35 seconds to just barely over two minutes. Yet every song is fully realized, with an infectious melody and fuzzed-out lyrics.

Dean Wells is the solitary member of the band, a woodworker based in Lyndonville, Vt., who bought a four-track recorder and guitar after falling for Guided by Voices. Wells soon began posting his own lo-fi music and releasing CD-Rs. Now with the help of Rainbow Quartz, Wells' music will enjoy the distribution The Capstan Shafts deserves.

Yeah, that means the early adopters will have to share their precious discovery. But something this fine and moving deserves an audience. A | Rebecca Reardon

RIYL: Guided By Voices, Belle & Sebastian, Elephant 6