- Re-issues and re-masters of albums from decades long past are often little more than a chance to cash in on the nostalgia market, seeking some extra dollars from people who were too young to have much cash at the time but are now in a position to have some disposable income. Fair enough too - if a band produces some good music, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to get some recompense, whether it’s at the time or decades later.
Every now and then though a re-issue arrives which is so good it deserves attention from a whole brand new group of people, rather than the slightly sad, saggy and wrinkled cohort of old fans. The re-issue of The Last Unicorn, the second and best album by the Sydney based indie-shoegaze pioneers who went by the name of Swirl, is one such release.
Those who remember Swirl will already know if you liked them or not. If you did, this re-mastered, re-polished version makes them sound better than ever. If you liked them then, you’ll love them now. Just buy the album. For the many who have never heard of Swirl, it’s best to consider this album as a new brightly polished gem - albeit one re-emerging from the ancient times of last century.
The Last Unicorn was originally released in 1994. It was ahead of its time then, and it still sounds fresh and shiny - or as shiny as something as something can be in the midst of the distorted dreamy swirling haze of these songs.
The best thing about this album is the variety and variations among and sometimes within the songs. Poppiness bleeds in to dirge, which gives way to ethereal, which sinks beneath some pounding rocking out.
The Last Unicorn is a pioneering work of the 1990s, and as we are about to hit 2020, we are privileged to hear it ringing out once again. Maybe it’s the remastering or may be it’s the passing of time, but the beauty of this album - it’s vocals, guitars, rhythms and production - sounds better than ever.
- Andrew Bartlett.