(written by Islander)

We host lots of song, EP, and album premieres — one or two of them every weekday. One of my main tasks around here is to decide which premiere requests to accept, and then to introduce them.

I almost never agree to premiere music from a reissued record, mainly because I interpret “premiere” literally. If a piece of music has already been publicly available, then subsequently hosting it here is not a “premiere,” and by definition music that is being reissued has been heard before.

But for three reasons, I decided to make an exception today. First, this reissue is for a demo that was first released on tape in 1996, and no one else has re-released it since then. So although some members of the public have heard the demo, their number is undoubtedly dwarfed by those who’ve never heard it. Second, the demo has been remixed and remastered, so the public hasn’t actually heard it the way it sounds now.

And third, this demo is more than a historical artifact. As you’ll find out, it hasn’t lost its ability to sink the heart and haunt the mind despite the passing of nearly 30 years. Continue reading »