Elf Power seem to be the fated to be one of those bands who get left behind while their friends and compatriots go on to bigger and better things, despite critical acclaim. A key part of the elephant 6 collective that spawned the likes of Neutral Milk Hotel and Of Montreal (whose Bryan Poole is in fact an ex member of Elf Power). Built around frontman Andrew Rieger, the band are joined by an array of guests from e6 and various other residents of the Orange Twin Conservation Community (a 150 acre eco community a few miles outside Athens, Georgia with a natural amphitheatre where the likes of Olivia Tremor Control and Bonnie Prince Billy have played for the residents). The spirit of community, communal living and sharing seems to be one that informs much about Elf Power, and their retro psych-pop sound. True to this sharing and collaborative spirit, for the first time on this record Rieger shares songwriting duties, with Eric Harris (of Olivia Tremor Control) providing music for many of the tracks here.Album opener ‘Owl Cut (White Flowers In The Sky)’, charges through on clattering lo-fi drums and fuzzed up synths before bleeding in to the glam stomp of ‘Spiral Stairs’ which comes on like T-Rex covering Belle and Sebastian. In places the album moves at a more sedate pace, with the downbeat ‘A Tired Army’ and ‘Window to Mars’, and the Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci-esque chime of ‘Midnight Crawls Out’, which is one of the albums highlights. Although by no means breaking new ground, Elf Power shine at their chosen subject- producing bouncy, hook ridden pop music, and In A Cave’s bouncy, positive outlook will appeal to many looking for a quick hit of sunshine. ‘The New Mythology’, with its chiming, mutating riff and driving drums sounds like it could be a soundtrack for the summer to come (which is no mean feat considering the snow lies two inches deep outside my window as I write this.) Sadly for Elf Power, In A Cave is unlikely to be the album that pushes them from critical and local success to a wider audience. That said Rieger and co’s mysticism and whimsy will undoubtedly continue to attract a loyal fan base who spend their lives in search of musical escapism in the form of a pop hook. 73%Links Elf Power [myspace]