After releasing three singles in 1993 and 1994, Raleigh, NC, indie rock quartet Ashley Stove released its debut full-length in 1995 on Jesus Christ Records. The band's sparse and spacy sound fills the 14-song disc with surprising twists and turns and a startling amount of Superchunk-style riffs. From the crunchy and catchy Duckwriter to the rousing and raw X-Ray Hipp, the album conjures up easy comparisons to Polvo and Erectus Monotone. The band alternates between drone-y instrumentals and rousing indie rock riffs. The opening and closing tracks, Gambit and Counting on Standing, were recorded on four-track recorders. Both stand out from the rest of the straightforward rock songs with their understated experimentation. Matt Brown and Ben Barwick lead the guitar attack, while Jennifer Walker's bass lays the rhythm foundation (especially on Crashinal Monument and 8,000 Cruxes), with Bill Alphin's drumming rounding out the foursome. While the album isn't groundbreaking, it is certainly steady in its approach and quality musicianship. The diversity of vocalists makes the band unique, with Barwick singing lead vocals on most of the songs, while Brown and Walker sing on two songs each. Most of the songs on Four Finger Moon were recorded at Duck-Kee Studios in Raleigh by Jerry Kee. Other tracks were recorded at Wavecastle Studios in Hillsborough, NC, by Caleb Southern. ~ Stephen Cramer, Rovi

1		Gambit
2		Duckwriter
3		Briney Drink
4		Schumaker
5		Dirty Cape
6		Motion Queen
7		Fair Zipper
8		X-Ray Hipp
9		Blind Man
10		Crashinal Monument
11		In the Marquis
12		Fadab
13		8000 Cruxes
14		Counting on Standing

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