Stu Morris is a painter—from wood carvings to tattoos, all equally successful—from New Zealand, but he also makes some pretty rewarding music. He just released the hook-filled mini-album Cat In The Grass—with his own cover art of course—featuring seven surfy garage rock tracks that are energetic and infectious. The first words—”My baby don’t dance” (in My Queen)—and the guitar riff that follows immediately hit the mark, and you don’t get a chance to let your attention wane (you don’t want that either). The tunes have the same mysterious charm as Morris’ artwork—raw and colorful, effortlessly cool. And sometimes it only takes 38 seconds to deliver a hit, like in the Bug Club-esque closing track Bay Take Away.

Cat In The Grass is out digitally (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp