HUGE news from Touch and Go:

In August of 1990, SLINT recorded their second album Spiderland at River North Recorders in Chicago. Over the course of only 4 days, the four young musicians created what would come to be regarded as one of the most important and influential records of the past thirty years. Adding to the mystique surrounding SLINT, they disbanded shortly before Spiderland was released on Touch and Go Records in April of 1991. There was no tour to support the album. There were no interviews with the band members. Just one eerie, now-iconic photo of the band members’ heads breaking the surface of the water and an album of six taut, menacing, and haunting songs.

Twenty-three years later, and five years in the making, Touch and Go Records will once again release the album Spiderland in April of 2014 - this time as a deluxe limited edition remastered box set. Pressed on 180 gram vinyl and packaged in a gatefold jacket, the entire Spiderland album has been remastered from the original analog master tapes by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service. The box set includes 14 previously unreleased outtakes and demos mastered by Bob Weston and pressed on 2 additional 180 gram vinyl albums packaged in a gatefold LP jacket.

 

 
It is no exaggeration to say that for independent rock in the 1990s and beyond, Slint’s Spiderland is every bit as important a release as My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless or Nirvana’s Nevermind. It’s justly hailed, along with Talk Talk’s Laughing Stock, as a pivotal seed of the Post-Rock movement, and it influenced more musicians than can possibly be comprehensively listed. The jaw-dropping dramatic breadth of the band’s claustrophobic tension and gloriously high release dynamics still amazes after over two decades and countless listens. If you’re not familiar with this album, good LORD, do yourself a favor. We’ll wait.
 

Slint, “Breadcrumb Trail”
 

Slint, “Nosferatu Man”
 

Slint, “Don, Aman”
 

Slint, “Washer”
 

Slint, “For Dinner”

Slint, “Good Morning, Captain,” contender for most devastating album ending ever.

Also, I cannot recommend the album’s 33 1/3 series book highly enough. It’s a gripping read, its author, Scott Tennent, did a fantastic job.

The fervent devotion with which the album’s many, many fanatics cling to it seems like it would have merited a deluxe remaster ages ago, but we’re not complaining. In addition to the remastered vinyl, the set comes with an extremely generous array of bonus goodies, and if pre-ordered directly from T&G, can be had with the band members’ autographs. Gotta move quickly on that, though, as that perk is limited.

Slint have, from time to time, reunited for short tours and festival shows. Here’s “Breadcrumb Trail,” performed in London just last month, uploaded by YouTube user Rairun.