2012.02.16 Pelican - Australasia

Color: A/B - Gray w/marbling, C/D - Tan w/marbling

Released: 2003, November 4 (Limited edition repress: 2008)

Label: Hydra Head/Interloper

True story: I met Pelican guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec in 1996 at a Quicksand show at the Vic Theater in Chicago. We never hung out after that night but for some reason he left and impression on me. Fast forward a few years and my friend Danielle is asking me if I’ve heard “Laurent and Larry’s new band.” Indeed I had heard mention of Pelican from my roommate at the time, Jamie, who’s Interloper Records put out this particular pressing of Australasia. But now that I knew this particular fellow was involved I was immediately intrigued. I remember listening to this with my other roommate at the time, Grant and enjoying the shit out of this record and him commenting, “sounds like a heavy as shit HUM,” which was a great thing in both of our minds. That’s why I think I latched onto Pelican… they were creating brutally crushing music while allowing all of these great post-punk and indie rock influences to subtly inform their craft. This particular pressing of the band’s debut might be the most aesthetically beautiful vinyl I own. Impeccably designed by Delicious Design League, it is screen printed with metallic ink AND letterpress printed on heavy chipboard stock. Each copy is numbered out of 1000 on the back. The whole package is practically a designer’s and printmaker’s wet dream in tangible form.