Argentinian pop/punk/rock/glam/bubblegum outfit Baby Scream, headed by Juan Pablo Mazzola, offer up this rather interesting collection of demos, outtakes and covers entitled 'Lost Balloons'.

Within the opening bars of the album, irrelevant of the fact this is a demo, the quality of songwriting shines through on 'We Are Against The System (One More Chance)', an original, shortened version of the song that appeared on the 'Ups and Downs' album. The beautiful simplicity is quite breathtaking and the diversity of the group is highlighted with the gritty, edgy 2004 recording 'Ball Of Fun' and that particular sleazy tinted slant goes on into 'I've Had Enough With You' and, running in at just over the two minute mark, is timed perfection.

The diversity kicks back in with a delicious version of The Electric Prunes' 'Onie', with all its laid back musical appeal. 'Revenge Of The Nerds' and 'I Don't Wanna Wake Up From This Dream' are outtakes from the 2009 'Identity Theft' release, with the latter having a noticeable Lennon influence which for me personally is heavenly.

'Barry's Blues (The Groover Radio Show) [Jingle]' is something that was put together with the Groove Strauss people in Germany to be used for the Groove Lounge, a Marc Bolan based radio show in England, with the inspiration obviously taken from Bolan with snippets of his music incorporated into the jingle, and the '70s influence rolls on in pure pop style with the genius remake of Dawn and Tony Orlando's unforgettable hit 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree' with the dreamy vocal performance enhancing and updating the tune: release this now, the commercial aspects are endless.

The Replacements' 'Sadly Beautiful', recorded in Mazzola's old apartment's bathroom, even with its low scale sound, still yanks at the heartstrings. 'When The Angels Sing', a 2003 rendition of the Social Distortion number, is quite a classy attempt and that punk inspiration carries on into the Ramones classics 'Judy Is A Punk' and 'Beat On The Brat', recorded as part of an Argentinian tribute to the Ramones in 2006.

That aforementioned, and refreshing, diversity returns for a tip of the hat to Marc Bolan and T. Rex once again on the unreleased lost Bolan tracks 'A Song For A Soldier' and 'Reality', as well as featuring a demo version of the T. Rex tunes 'High Wire' and 'Cosmic Dancer', with the latter being credited as Deafboy One featuring Juan Pablo Mazzola, with the same duo credited with a psychedelic cover of John Lennon's 'Working Class Hero'.

Lost Balloons....definitely one to float away on.

www.babyscream.com