Lilys

In the Presence of Nothing (2017)

eatdogs

2017 has started on the right track with the reissue of Lily’s

1992 debut album, In the Presence of

Nothing. Lisa Fancher of Frontier Records fame worked alongside sole Lily’s

OG member Kurt Heasly to get this long sought after work back into the hands of

hardcore shoegazers of the world. To say that this was anticipated is putting

it lightly. Since the original release of the album on Slumberland Records,

first pressings of the record have gone to extreme prices on the secondary

market. Even an original cd copy can almost cost you 100 bucks!

Just like last year’s reissue of Lily’s second album, Eccsame the Photon Band, Kurt and Lisa

have put a lot of work into making this reissue standout and become a huge gift

for the fans. However, before I dig into the details of the package, let us

talk a bit about the music and why it is so important that this came back into

the spotlight.

Whenever I talk about the shoegaze genre with someone, I

always like to name-drop my favorite artists and their best albums. When it

comes to Lily’s I often get blank stares. Why does no one know about this band

and their friggin’ amazing debut? To help whomever I am speaking with I always

ask, “Hey, you like Loveless don’t

you? Well In the Presence of Nothing

is like the American version of that album!”

I do not take it lightly when I make that comparison, but it

is the best way for me to get someone interested. Moreover, I do not mean it in

a derogatory way either! Seriously, if you like Loveless then you should surely like ITPON.

Take everything you like about shoegaze in general and add

on more of a 90’s East Coast indie rock vibe and you have the perfect concoction

of noise, or as critic Robert Christgau described, "Amplified

watercolors".

This reissue of ITPON has all the original album tracks plus

an additional three tracks from the Tone

Bender ep. Those bonus tracks are a wonderful addition since they contain

the first Lilys tracks ever out, “February Fourteenth” and “Threw a Day” as

well as the track “Eskimo”.

Right from the start, this album blasts forth after a

buildup that is both exciting and terrifying. Once the guitars start scorching

you know that wall of sound is now taking over and you get goosebumps. This is

that sound you have been looking for

that many other so-called shoegaze bands do not really act on. MBV were always

the ones who could do it proper, but there was no one else you thought. However,

right here it is in your face and blasting through. "There's No Such Thing

as Black Orchids" is a perfect opener and the dramatic mix of wailing

guitars, drums, bass, and Kurt’s lo-fi sounding voice in the background

envelope you in a deep pool of eargasmic frosting.

Things are just getting started though because the second

track is even more amazing. "Elizabeth Colour Wheel" is perhaps the

album standout and it is a nice slow climb with atmospheric texture that is

wrapped up in warmth and emotion. “Collider” is another standout with dynamic

shifts from pop sounding to heavy crunching, and "Periscope" has a

nice punkish vibe with heavy bass bleeding through. You want more rockin’ tunes

though? Well check out the track “Tone Bender” for a very heavy, almost droning

sounding song that can remind you of modern acts like Isis or maybe Boris. Also

not to forget, you must check out the track “February Fourteenth” with its

noisy, Jesus and Mary Chain-like approach if that even remotely interests you.

While shoegaze might have been a huge UK thing with great

bands like Slowdive, Ride, Swerve Driver, Catherine Wheel, Verve, Lush, and

Chapterhouse, America had its fair share as well. Bands like Drop Nineteens,

Velocity Girl, Swirlies, Starflyer 59, and of course, Lilys are some of the

many and sadly left unnoticed outside the scene and the occasional

retrospective. That should not be the case and this reissue can hopefully bring

back some of those missing pieces of a certain time in music.

Ok, as for the package being sold from Frontier records they

have/had four options on their bandcamp page. First off, they released a very limited

Ultra Deluxe Package with only 50 copies printed. This contained the album on double

LP with a silkscreened cover. The vinyl is 2 X 180 gram black and it comes with

an LP insert, download card and water decal. The cover is hand-screened, numbered,

signed and includes a privately printed chapbook by Kurt. Next was a Super

Deluxe Package limited to only 300 copies and it includes all the above minus

the chapbook.

Those first two options are currently sold out. However,

there is a third option and it is a normal double LP in a matte jacket. The

vinyl is 2 X 180 gram black and it comes with the LP insert and download card. There

is also a regular digital download if you want that option as well, but I must

stop you there. If you have the means to play records I HIGHLY suggest you

spring for the album on vinyl. The pressing on this reissue is amazing sounding

and the quality is high. I never heard any surface noise or distortion. The

care and quality of this release makes it an amazing reissue.