Lilys
In the Presence of Nothing (2017)
eatdogs
2017 has started on the right track with the reissue of Lily’s
1992 debut album, In the Presence of
Nothing. Lisa Fancher of Frontier Records fame worked alongside sole Lily’s
OG member Kurt Heasly to get this long sought after work back into the hands of
hardcore shoegazers of the world. To say that this was anticipated is putting
it lightly. Since the original release of the album on Slumberland Records,
first pressings of the record have gone to extreme prices on the secondary
market. Even an original cd copy can almost cost you 100 bucks!
Just like last year’s reissue of Lily’s second album, Eccsame the Photon Band, Kurt and Lisa
have put a lot of work into making this reissue standout and become a huge gift
for the fans. However, before I dig into the details of the package, let us
talk a bit about the music and why it is so important that this came back into
the spotlight.
Whenever I talk about the shoegaze genre with someone, I
always like to name-drop my favorite artists and their best albums. When it
comes to Lily’s I often get blank stares. Why does no one know about this band
and their friggin’ amazing debut? To help whomever I am speaking with I always
ask, “Hey, you like Loveless don’t
you? Well In the Presence of Nothing
is like the American version of that album!”
I do not take it lightly when I make that comparison, but it
is the best way for me to get someone interested. Moreover, I do not mean it in
a derogatory way either! Seriously, if you like Loveless then you should surely like ITPON.
Take everything you like about shoegaze in general and add
on more of a 90’s East Coast indie rock vibe and you have the perfect concoction
of noise, or as critic Robert Christgau described, "Amplified
watercolors".
This reissue of ITPON has all the original album tracks plus
an additional three tracks from the Tone
Bender ep. Those bonus tracks are a wonderful addition since they contain
the first Lilys tracks ever out, “February Fourteenth” and “Threw a Day” as
well as the track “Eskimo”.
Right from the start, this album blasts forth after a
buildup that is both exciting and terrifying. Once the guitars start scorching
you know that wall of sound is now taking over and you get goosebumps. This is
that sound you have been looking for
that many other so-called shoegaze bands do not really act on. MBV were always
the ones who could do it proper, but there was no one else you thought. However,
right here it is in your face and blasting through. "There's No Such Thing
as Black Orchids" is a perfect opener and the dramatic mix of wailing
guitars, drums, bass, and Kurt’s lo-fi sounding voice in the background
envelope you in a deep pool of eargasmic frosting.
Things are just getting started though because the second
track is even more amazing. "Elizabeth Colour Wheel" is perhaps the
album standout and it is a nice slow climb with atmospheric texture that is
wrapped up in warmth and emotion. “Collider” is another standout with dynamic
shifts from pop sounding to heavy crunching, and "Periscope" has a
nice punkish vibe with heavy bass bleeding through. You want more rockin’ tunes
though? Well check out the track “Tone Bender” for a very heavy, almost droning
sounding song that can remind you of modern acts like Isis or maybe Boris. Also
not to forget, you must check out the track “February Fourteenth” with its
noisy, Jesus and Mary Chain-like approach if that even remotely interests you.
While shoegaze might have been a huge UK thing with great
bands like Slowdive, Ride, Swerve Driver, Catherine Wheel, Verve, Lush, and
Chapterhouse, America had its fair share as well. Bands like Drop Nineteens,
Velocity Girl, Swirlies, Starflyer 59, and of course, Lilys are some of the
many and sadly left unnoticed outside the scene and the occasional
retrospective. That should not be the case and this reissue can hopefully bring
back some of those missing pieces of a certain time in music.
Ok, as for the package being sold from Frontier records they
have/had four options on their bandcamp page. First off, they released a very limited
Ultra Deluxe Package with only 50 copies printed. This contained the album on double
LP with a silkscreened cover. The vinyl is 2 X 180 gram black and it comes with
an LP insert, download card and water decal. The cover is hand-screened, numbered,
signed and includes a privately printed chapbook by Kurt. Next was a Super
Deluxe Package limited to only 300 copies and it includes all the above minus
the chapbook.
Those first two options are currently sold out. However,
there is a third option and it is a normal double LP in a matte jacket. The
vinyl is 2 X 180 gram black and it comes with the LP insert and download card. There
is also a regular digital download if you want that option as well, but I must
stop you there. If you have the means to play records I HIGHLY suggest you
spring for the album on vinyl. The pressing on this reissue is amazing sounding
and the quality is high. I never heard any surface noise or distortion. The
care and quality of this release makes it an amazing reissue.