From the land that brought the world the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Oasis comes "Moke," a four-man band from South London. Their Ultimatum Music label debut is chock-full of some of the bluesiest alternative rock this side of the Atlantic. Two seconds into "Down," the self-titled disc's first song, it's not at all what I expected. The name "Moke" had me thinking of Blur or some other bland British band, especially because they're from London. "Down" opens with cool, bluesy guitar picking. Then the drums kick in and lead into a wailing solo by guitarist Sean Genockey. Singer John Hogg's throaty vocals and Genockey's country rock riffs go down well with "Down's" hard-living lyrics.

"Wheel In Motion" opens on a thrashing Matthew Sweet guitar riff followed by a conservative rap - imagine an un-angry Zach from Rage Against the Machine combined with a mellow Tom Petty vocal mix. It's a great neck-bobbing song, with a strong Local H feel, but eclectic enough to stand on its own. "Another Weekend" finds "Moke" unintentionally representing music as it careens into the next millennium. "Moke" melds driving hard rock riffs with mellow moments, and a tiny touch of rap and ska, into a walloping rock force that is sexy, slamming and soulful at the same time.

The entirety of "Mislaid The Key" features humming vocals and blues guitar strumming similar to the opening of American Woman by the Guess Who. They may be from the land of the Beatles and the Stones, but their hearts and souls are "dipped in the blues," as John Hogg says in the song. "My Desire" is a pained mix of blues, alternative and R&B vocals with highly confessional lyrics about the seedy neighborhood pharmacist who will "fill me with that good stuff." Speaking of seedy neighborhood pharmacists, "Moke" just opened a tour for the Black Crowes, which makes for a good example of an opening band that is too good to follow on stage. It's not quite as drastic as Jimi Hendrix opening for the Monkees, but I wouldn't want to follow these guys on stage.

"Leather Drag," with its slinky alternative blues vocals that build to a dreamy chorus and a wildly distorted guitar solo, has a line that captures the public awareness of "Moke" that is about to hit American soil. "There's something about this, you know," Hogg sings. And there is something about this, but I don't know quite what it is. "Moke" has an undefinable quality that many great bands have - they may leave some listeners thinking how cool and great the music is, but they'll be damned to give you a specific reason, which is what all bands that attain greatness possess.

Hints of Lenny Kravitz soul and Rolling Stones swagger sneak into "Wrong" and "Sleepyhead," both of which are less flamboyant than Kravitz and the Stones, but just as groovy and retro. "Water" fills the listener with smooth, smoky vocals and a rambling acoustic guitar opening reminiscent of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Déjà Vu" and Pearl Jam's "Ocean." The song's dreamy and fluid rhythm compliments Hogg's soulful crooning.

"Power Cut" lays down a funky mix of hip-hop rhythm, rapping vocals and a strangely echoing guitar that builds to a bottle neck guitar solo climax that defines the term "eclectic." "In Your Dreams" is a beautiful, acoustic song, resembling a lullaby, but with threatening and creepy lyrics like, "I will stalk you in your dreams, I will scare you in your dreams." "In Your Dreams" is an odd choice to close such a powerful album, but I guess some people like to go out quietly.