Guided By Voices US Vinyl & CDs

Review: There's no denying that getting hold of a new Guided By Voices album is a good thing. Hitting play for the first time is as exciting as it is nervy - surely they have to go off the boil at some point? 20 LPs in and it hasn't happened yet, so we'll see. Digressions aside, much as we love the introduction to their fresh ideas and work, few things come close to revisiting their finest hours when you've not heard them in years. Originally arriving in 1996, one of two full length releases that year, the other being Under the Bushes Under the Stairs, Tonics & Chasers is every bit as rousing and life-affirming as these guys get, and from the word go, with the gritty lo-fi sensibilities and distortion of 'Satellite'. Similarly leftfield tones abound on 'My Thoughts Are A Gas', to name just one more, while the likes of 'Wingtip Repair' are equally beguiling but in a different (curious piano) kind of way. In contrast, fare such as 'At The Farms' could almost pass for the work of a mainstream rock band. Then you listen closer.

Review: Tonics & Twisted Chasers emerged in 1996 as a surprise release, marking a distinctive entry in Guided by Voices' prolific catalogue. Initially available as a mail-order only, vinyl-only album, its crude black-and-white sleeve reflected the band's DIY roots. This album, a collaboration between Robert Pollard and Tobin Sprout, deviates from the polished approach of Under the Bushes Under the Stars. It embraces lo-fi aesthetics, characterised by ultra-short tracks and raw creativity. Sprout's eclectic backing music, often featuring a drum machine, meshes with Pollard's stream-of-consciousness lyrics, resulting in a collection of nineteen songs, most under two minutes. Tonics & Twisted Chasers stands out for its experimental spirit and brevity, reminiscent of child-like creativity. Tracks like '158 Years of Beautiful Sex' and 'Look, It's Baseball' exude a spontaneous, unfiltered charm. Despite the album's modest presentation, it is filled with unique gems like the melancholic 'Is She Ever?' and the energetic 'Wingtip Repair'. The band's ability to fuse lo-fi production with profound musicality is elite. Tonics & Twisted Chasers is a hidden treasure, embodying the unrestrained and playful essence of Guided by Voices.