I like the VVV album a lot. I can see how it has influenced/inflected the latest Moon Duo material giving them a slightly poppier/ dancier more accessible sensibility. Like yourself, I didn't pay it much attention till i'd heard the latest Moon Duo and went back and investigated.

Didn't see the Ripley album fer sale on merch in Brum tbh, there wasn't a lot on show didn't already have...end of tour etc I guess. Was reading an old Quietus intervew with him yesterday....as a kid he was a BIG Neil Young fan (between himself and his pal they had close on 1000 Neil Young Bootlegs apparently). He was saying how he loved the production sound on the first 5 Rod Stewert records, which made me laugh. He seems like a nice guy. No airs and graces, and not trying to name drop obscure bands like hipper acts.
https://thequietus.com/articles/13565-ripley-wooden-shjips-interview