THESE two mini-albums, one British, the other Australian, have both gone to America for inspiration yet still have the idiosyncrasy to stand out.

Goldrush, from rural Oxfordshire, are licking their wounds on Extended Play after Virgin denied them extended play on a major label despite Don't Bring Me Down being the best British rock debut of 2002. No longer is a nascent rock band granted low-key time to mature and develop without the ballast of instant hits, and so the Bennett brothers' quintet are taking stock, back on their own label. Not surprisingly, Extended Play's seven tracks are more primal in texture, particularly the ragged, raging Intro, while Counting Song lives up to its billing as a live favourite, and Dave Fridman's remix of last year's lovely, melodious Let You Down only re-affirms the folly of Virgin's impatience. As a break, this album is as reviving as a KitKat but you can hear the anger of injustice in the guitars. May the forestalled Goldrush rise again, rather than be knocked back permanently.

By comparison, new Virgin signing The Sleepy Jackson are at that tantalising moment where expectation is all, and the accountants aren't yet tapping their fingers. From Perth, Australia, capricious Luke Steele's band have delivered a sketchy, scratchy yet verdant opening salvo. This eight-song sampler is a home-grown, lo-fi introduction to their skewed, experimental take on anything and everything from American alt.country to Beck, the Flaming Lips to Dylan, George Harrison guitars to Nick Cave's gothic noir. Contrast the summer charm of Good Dancers with the droning chill of Let Your Love Be Love, and The Sleepy Jackson offer myriad possibilities and will surely follow The Avalanches and The Vines as the next Down Under band on the up.

Updated: 08:42 Thursday, March 13, 2003