(DFA; self-released)

www.dfarecords.com / www.myspace.com/supercluster1

Early in 2009, the music world lost one of its most beloved and talented players in Randall Bewley, influential guitarist for the seminal Athens, GA, combo Pylon, who died tragically after suffering a heart attack while driving and overturning his van. Once hailed by former R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry as "the best rock ‘n' roll band in America" in 1987 as a retaliation to Rolling Stone's hailing of his own band as such, Pylon remain one of the hidden treasures of the new wave era, propelled by the jagged jangle of Bewley's incredible guitar work, shades of which can be heard in everyone from Peter Buck to Deerhunter/Atlas Sound svengali Bradford Cox.

It was the Atlanta-based Cox who was recruited to fill in for Bewley, who passed on, unfortunately, before he could finish Waves (7 stars out of 10), the debut album from the Athens-based supergroup Supercluster. Formed by Pylon frontwoman Vanessa Briscoe-Hay as a means to get back into songwriting after raising her two daughters, its roster consists of a veritable who's-who of the last 30 years of Athens rock, including Bewley, Briscoe-Hay's husband Bob Hay, Hannah Jones of the New Sound of Numbers, Kay Stanton of Casper and the Cookies, mandolinist Bill David of the North Georgia Bluegrass Band, Will Cullen Hart and John Fernandes of Olivia Tremor Control/Circulatory System, and fellow Elephant Sixer cellist Heather McIntosh, among others.

Waves is a beautiful mess of melodies rooted in a Southern gothic strain of Pylon-esque propulsion utilized as a jumping-off point for other styles with which Briscoe-Hay was fixing on experimenting. Album opener "Peace Disco Song" smacks of Dream Of Life-era Patti Smith; "Mermaid's Tale" deflects shadows of clarinet-imbued gypsy music; and "Sunflower Clock" offers a touch of Domino Records-flavored psychedelia - all highlighted by Bewley's inventive, expansive guitar work. As for the songs created following Randy's death with Cox filling in on lead, the plaintive country waltz "River" and the swirling, ominous "Copper Palo" rank among the best of the bunch, showcasing the young Deerhunter ax man's talents on the six-string in ways he has yet to make public via his own projects. But ultimately, Waves serves as a testament to the artistry of Randy Bewley, whose unique, complex and impassioned musicianship will sorely be missed.

For a deeper investigation into Bewley's legacy, check out the DFA label's expanded edition of Pylon's 1983 sophomore classic Chomp (9 stars out of ten), rechristened Chomp More. Though most point to the band's 1980 debut Gyrate as their best, Chomp is by far the most enjoyable, as the jerky, nervous new wave riddims of their early years give way to a more streamlined pop feel, evident on songs like "Yo-Yo" and "Crazy", a tune R.E.M. would faithfully cover for a B-side (it's on their 1987 odds ‘n' sods collection Dead Letter Office). The new version of Chomp expands the 12-track set by four songs, including the 7-inch version of "Crazy" and the pastoral found-sound jam "Four Minutes".

Shortly after the album's release Pylon split up, although the group did subsequently reunite, eke out a third album, 1990's underwhelming Chain, and open for R.E.M. on their Green Tour. Listening to this reissue, however, offers clues indicating that Waves could very well be more of the proper follow-up to Chomp. And while it's sad that we will never hear Briscoe-Hay's voice and Bewley's guitar come together again, we can be quite grateful that these key releases offer up a reminder of just how much of a maverick Bewley was on that axe, and how much he will be missed by the underground rock community.

Standout Tracks: Waves - "Peace Disco Song", "River", "The Night I Died"; Chomp More - "Yo-Yo", "Crazy", "Four Minutes" RON HART

Below: cover of Waves - graphics by Candy, drawing by Randy Bewley.