The Clean are one of the originals of New Zealand's thriving indie rock scene. Their "Tally Ho" single was one of the early successes for the hugely influential Flying Nun label, and they have continued to put out records full of carefully crafted pop-rock songs since their reunion in 1988. Mister Pop is the band's first album in eight years. Robert Scott's love of UK folk played a large part in the writing of this album, as did David Kilgour's interest in African and Eastern guitar music. But delicate melodies and that ever-pervasive pop sensibility are still the priority here, as can be heard from lead-off single "In the Dream Life You Need a Rubber Soul."