Ever since 1984's
What's the Point?,
R. Stevie Moore has released the occasional CD compilation collecting some of the literally hundreds of songs he's issued on cassette since 1968. Released in 2002,
Hundreds of Hiding Places is rather atypical in that, along with fan favorites like 1978's "Puttin' Up the Groceries" (one of
Moore's most popular tunes), 1987's memorable rocker "Sort of Way," and 1977's ghostly, gloomy "Steve," the 21-track compilation includes a fairly large number of instrumentals.
Moore has never shied away from admitting that he was heavily influenced by British progressive rockers of the '70s, and his instrumentals tend to recall the likes of
Steve Hillage-era
Gong ("Kaleidoscopics II") or
Hatfield and the North ("Chutes and Ladders"). The combination of these prog-poppy tunes and
Moore's more characteristic quirky pop tunes, like the tender "Linger Longer Lucy" and the quirky but immediately memorable Brazilian pastiche "Hasty Banana" (with lyrics and vocals by wife Krystyna Olsiewicz), gives
Hundreds of Hiding Places a more low-key and -- dare it be said -- mellow vibe than previous collections like
The Future Is Worse Than the Past or
Contact Risk. Longtime fans might appreciate this a bit more than newcomers, however.