Bark Psychosis: C or D

https://www.roughtrade.com/events/fearless-the-making-of-post-rock-jeanette-leech-graham-sutton-in-conversation

I still don't know the order of events -- ie, whether they already knew each other before she started writing the book, or whether they met because she started writing the book and interviewing people -- but it's fun that Jeanette and Graham ended up getting married. Power couple right there!

revisiting codename dustsucker and i've gotta say (and someone probably did) that track one basically invented grizzly bear

Nice try, but I'm still not going to listen to Grizzly Bear

shapeshifting sounds like movietone with a michio kurihara guest guitar solo

I was in London for this talk at Rough Trade. It was fairly interesting and a happy accident that I ended up in the shop just before the talk began. Wish they had played some examples of the music that influenced the sound.

Oh cool, do you remember much about what was said?

In parts. Talked about the influences of the sound. The differences in the U.K. and US post rock principals / sound. The research & writing process. A couple anecdotes. Some other known musicians were in the audience but I forgot who they are now.

revisiting codename dustsucker and i've gotta say (and someone probably did) that track one basically invented grizzly bear

it's the vocal harmonies as much as the music. i don't think i'm insane, i can't actually unhear it now

hex double vinyl remaster?

https://boomkat.com/products/hex-2fe2e77f-2575-4820-88f4-b763cf63e88d

Cd's supposed to be remastered too and finally got the mix it should have done if the band weren't falling apart at the time or something. So have wondered if it sounds much different to the original release which i think I still have.

Also wondering if Sutton might remaster the Che era stuff and recompile it.

that would be nice. I'll be buying this, more to support the band and Sutton and show interest than anything else; I do wish it wasn't a double 45 release, I hate those. But still.

They have a Bandcamp page if you want to go direct. I'm assuming the FLAC is 24bit.

Hard to tell how different the new master is but the previews sound nice enough.

XXP - The album is remixed??

Has anyone established whether it actually sounds any different/better? (It always sounded close to perfect to me).

From one faintly distracted listen last night, not A-B tested (though I did listen to the original, via a different method, the day before), I feel like some of the guitar is slightly more prominent, and some of the background/ambient sounds. Specifically Graham's spooky, scratchy, mood/rhythm guitar bits (not the sparkly, beatific, weary lead melodies). The whole effect of which is to feel a little less smooth. And closer, ever so slightly, to Dustsucker.

That's funny because the impression I had from the clips on BK was that the overall 'texture' was a bit smoother (than the origin CD.) Like, slightly more controlled compression, more bass and a more 'open' midrange. Which certainly might make for a better listen, if not dramatically so. A tasteful modern mastering job in other words.

Low bitrate preview clips are of course useless for evaluating this kind of thing, but Sutton says it's better and I'll give him the benefit if the doubt on that.

The original has always sounded pretty good but also for some reason I've never wanted to play it that much and I am intrigued by the prospect of a refreshed version.

It's not been remixed AFAIK.

I make no apologies for the hi-fi mag / Hoffman forums tone of some of the above. My embarrasment should suffice. ;-)

Sleevenotes don't mention remixing, just remastering.

More open midrange would explain the increased prominence of Graham's spooky scratch guitar, actually.

Feel sure that this must have been posted somewhere but just in case:

http://thequietus.com/articles/15990-bark-psychosis-hex-graham-sutton-interview

I thought i read something from Sutton somewhere about it finally getting the mix it deserved, or would have got if he wasn't feeling the effect of teh band falling apart at the time of release. Can't think where out of several magazines though.

It's a fine sounding record anyway imho, remaster or otherwise

Codename: Dustsucker reissue on the way:

https://barkpsychosis.bandcamp.com/album/codename-dustsucker

things i've never heard til today: bark psychosis (heard of them round here over 16 years but i'm either first or last it seems).i been playing through fire records stuff thanks to learning about and playing lots of virginia wing.

enjoying the hell out of codename dustsucker. i guess just in time for reissue! still not heard hex yet tho. ~anticipation~

I'm jealous! They are one of the best bands ever, ever, ever...

Che material needs a new one disc comprehensive home.

the two cheree eps were collected on one cd. it's over there (points 5ft to his left). discogs doesn't list anything else.

https://www.discogs.com/Bark-Psychosis-Nothing-Feels-I-Know/release/690188

ah, there was a track on the flexi

B1 –Bark Psychosis Clawhammer

Never much cared for Codename: Dustsucker. Hex and Independency are mostly classic, though.

dustsucker was the first one i heard (courtesy of a nick southall review, i think!), and i still love it and connect to it a bit more than their earlier albums (which i also like)

This is a rather random little essay but has a few tidbits about early BP.

https://christopherothen.wordpress.com/2017/12/01/the-bark-psychosis-stanley-kubrick-connection/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j09xsVXSuUk

JUst reading that bark psychosis/kubrick thing and the writer's wrong, they didn't go to Bancrofts which was the other local public school in the area. they went to Forest School. Certainly from the age of about 11 to when they left school.

Piece in stereogum on hex’s 25th birthday:
https://www.stereogum.com/2031861/bark-psychosis-hex-turns-25/franchises/sounding-board/

i never understood the fuss about hex. nothing special really, nice to listen to but quite boring. codename dustsucker on the other hand totally knocked me out. they reached another level on that album.

BUYER BEWARE: RSD issue of Bark Psychosis “Independency” is unapproved and made despite being asked not to.
No approval of tracklisting.
No approval of artwork.
No approval of mastering.
No approval of pressings.
Can't vouch for veracity of masters used.
You get the picture.

— Graham • Sutton (@GPSutton) March 1, 2019

Did anyone pick this up despite it not being legit? I saw a copy yesterday that had somehow not been purchased on RSD, but given Graham's tweet above and the $40 price tag, I ultimately decided to pass it up. I hope this wasn't a mistake. Hopefully there will be a proper reissue at some point?

I did. Listened to it last night and it actually sounds pretty great!!

Guessing, despite Graham’s comments, that they must’ve had some sort of decent masters to work with.

Picked it up but not listened to it yet. Also sent me off to finally order the “Blue” and “A Street Scene” CD singles which have now arrived.

I was so conflicted about this one. As well as your comment about the quality of the sound Alan, a few people on Discogs have said it sounds excellent. As soon as it was announced it was at the top of my list, but Graham's comments stopped me from getting it. We have one copy left at work and it's calling my name.

I asked Graham if he’d ever remaster Independency and he suggested there were significant legal issues with doing so, iirc. No idea what.

The legal issue will be Gerald Palmer’s ownership of the masters.

I ended up picking up this reissue and have to say, it sounds really great. Just as good as the recent Hex and Codename vinyl reissues.

So Independency, Game Over and Replay have now hit streaming services? Really didn't expect this at all.

nice!

Files were upped on Boomkat a couple of months ago but Graham asked them to take them down and they complied almost immediately, so I guess Third Stone were responsible.

well, i'm happy to hear independency again.

Is there any plans to reissue the non-album stuff?

Struggled to decide which thread to flag this on ...

https://acerecords.co.uk/in-the-light-of-time

Great track listing.