Wand - In a Capsule Underground

Format: LP 
Catalogue No.: DC922
Barcode: 0781484092216
Release Date: 25 Oct 2024
Genre: Psych/Garage Rock

 Wand shift smoothly into Phase IV of their star-flung efforts on the wings of the latest, ‘Vertigo’, with an LP release of ‘In a Capsule Underground’. These demos and unreleased songs from ‘Ganglion Reef’ are the earliest Wand recordings that we know of, preceding everything that’s come so far. It’s not simply a function of time and nostalgia at this late moment that they sound invariably like magical recordings by, and for, children.
 From the reverse end of the telescope, it’s not so easy to tell. Just because someone’s young doesn’t mean that they are absolutely going to sound like a souped-up baby Moody Blues crossed with a young-wave Status Quo, Barrettian Pink Floyd, Genesis-era Genesis and transitioning Barclay James Harvest (that is, third LP), all letting loose in the post-punk garage, does it? Yes, it happens more than sometimes in rock and roll life, but with Wand, it’s always of essence to consider intent when analysing their output. What if their desire to sound pixie-ish and ethereal while mowing us down with buzzing guitars and bass (and drums and keys!) set to stun was simply a tactile approach to the conceptualization of Phase I?
 Whatever the case, it can be generally agreed that in 2014–15, they managed to pump out three distinct progressions on this theme - ‘Ganglion Reef’, ‘Golem’ and ‘1000 Days’ - at a trot, encompassing their golden Phases I-II in the process. The light, fizzy versions here have distinctive, gleaming magic energies all their own and will provide quite the breathtaking ride when endeavoured upon by all who haven’t yet heard them.

Tracklisting
Send/Receive (Alpha NM)
Clearer mix 2
Broken Candle
Fire on the Mountain Parts 
I-II-III
Flying Golem
Fugue State 23-23-23
Strange Inertia Ctrl Alt Death
Growing Up Boys
Generator Larping
The Screaming Eye 2
The Leap
Gong Report 4_11