URUSEI YATSURA – We Are Urusei Yatsura – Xxtra Version (2023 Expanded Remaster) – 2LP – Gold Vinyl [MAY 26]

2LP – Limited Edition Gold Vinyl.Remastered reissue of We Are Urusei Yatsura (originally released in 1996), with bonus vinyl of unreleased demos and B-sides.The cover has been completely remixed using archive photos and artwork from the time, with newinterviews and extensive notes.

In the days before landfill indie, and in rebellion against a developing Britpop orthodoxy, there were some weird but melodic bands coming of age outside London that drew inspiration from the US underground and the sparkly retrofuturism of Japan. Primitive guitar noise with art rock leanings, post punk DIY and fanzine culture. The best known of these bands was maybe Urusei Yatsura; noisy stars, named in honour of Rumiko Takahashi, legendary manga creator.

Back in 1996, after several increasingly well-received 7s, the band travelled to Leamington Spa to record their debut album with John Rivers, producer of Swell Maps and Glasgow scene godparents, The Pastels. The resulting album won the group legions of new fans and gained them their first Independent #1 chart placing, alongside peers Ash and Super Furry Animals.

These were fertile years in Glasgow, a scene with no name, no single sound, where the magic thread tying everyone together was words and works so personal, they couldnt be mistaken for anyone elses. We Are Urusei Yatsura is a cascade of why not? thinking. The way Phasers on Stun spirals into Sola Kola; the sunburned 23-second improv at the end of Pachinko; the slack-echoing strings of the outro to Road Song sprayed with the shrapnel of toy electronics. Pure pop magic, Ren & Stimpy on upstairs, ray-guns, Ians homemade walkie-talkie speaker, a beatbox, all sealed with a Talking Tina dolls emphatic endorsement: I love it Nick Soulsby

The vinyl-only double LP set comprises the original 1996 album recorded by John Rivers, accompanied with an extra disk of unreleased demos, rare singles and B-sides which have not been available since the 90s. It documents the time leading up to the release of the LP and the singles that came from it, capturing the development, lost pop moments and essential experiments from the eccentric and joyful Glasgow band. The cover has been completely remixed using archive photos and artwork from the time, with new interviews and extensive notes. The release marks 30 years since the official birthday of the band, 9/3/93.

When I drove the transit van that took them down to Leamington Spa to record their first proper LP, there was a sense of quiet, assured anticipation. I couldnt wait to hear it and when I came back a couple of weeks later to pick them back up, I remember so clearly when they played it from the vans tape deck. Fergus and Graham were hunched over, focusing intently on what they wanted to change about the mix. The reverb wasnt right or something. Maybe they didnt like how high the vocals were in the mix. I said to them, youre listening to the details, but missing what is most importantthis is a fantastic record! It was. It is. It is a fantastic record. They were a brilliant live band and I am so lucky to have been able to have been there to see their formation.
Alex Kapranos.

* Main Vinyl image shown is for mock-up purposes only. Actual vinyl colour/shade may look different after pressing.

Tracklist:

Good Side
A1. Siamese [2:37]
A2. First Day On A New Planet [3:33]
A3. Pow R. Ball [2:30]
A4. Kewpies Like Watermelon [2:34]
A5. Phasers On Stun / Sola Kola [3:07]
A6. Black Hole Love [5:13]

Evil Side
B1. Velvy Blood [2:57]
B2. Plastic Ashtray [2:52]
B3. Death 2 Everyone [2:48]
B4. Pachinko [3:51]
B5. (-) [Untitled]
B6. Kernel [3:35]
B7. Road Song [6:36]

Xtra Trax
C1. It Is [3:19]
C2. On Yr Mind [3:31]
C3. Teen Dream [3:04]
C4. Majesty [2:32]
C5. Burriko Girl [3:39]
C6. Got The Sun [4:00]

Xxtra Trax
D1. Silver Krest [3:18]
D2. Sucker / Kitty Litter [4:11]
D3. Lo-Fi Scary Balloons [2:36]
D4. The Power Of Negative Thinking / The Love That Brings You Down [10:45]