THE VELDT – “ANGEL HEART”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PREMIERE
There’s a lot to be said about any artist who is still doing their thing 35+ years after first embarking on their path. Even more can be said for a band who has managed to stay together and create great music for just as many years. This is exactly what has happened in the instance of the North Carolinian alternative – shoegaze outfit known as The Veldt.
Flashback to 1989 – this young band, newly signed to Mercury Records, enters the studio with Cocteau Twins’ genial producer Robin Guthrie to record their debut album. It is to be titled Marigolds and the chemistry between artists and mentor is automatic, so much so that the sound resulting from this initial chemistry has left a mark on their sound to this day. Unfortunately, Mercury didn’t allow its release. As labels were famous for doing back in the day, they racked up the studio costs by making the band go back into the studio to record a different debut album – this time with another studio – Lincoln Fong of Moose. Oddly enough, the album was also called Marigolds.
Come November 24, two very indie labels – Portland-based Little Cloud Records and The Veldt’s own imprint 5BC Records – will finally champion those original recordings by releasing this album after many years without access to the original recordings. The day has finally come and we are thrilled to be part of this process as we premiere “Angel Heart”, which is the final single from their forthcoming album – appropriately titled Illuminated 1989.
Back in 1988, “Angel Heart” was written for the original 1989 recording sessions – this represents the first time this song has been released since they had decided not to include it on the Lincoln Fong-produced Marigolds album. This album is not only a historical sonic document, but it’s a shimmering, charming, sensual and cinematic body of remarkable psychedelic rock that resembles nothing currently in the music sphere. Neither has anybody, to date, been able to emulate The Veldt. They are, as they say, one of a kind.
Formed in the mid-80s by identical twins Daniel Chavis (vocals, guitar) and Danny Chavis (guitar), the brothers were eventually joined by Japanese bassist-programmer Hayato Nakao.
Danny Chavis says that “Angel Heart” is “The stellar sound you get when you see the universe expanding. When you feel hopelessness and melancholy and, of course, alone, there’s always a meandering feeling of something that lifts you up and brings you down. We feel it as we get older, but were not alone. This is that sound.”
Pitchfork included The Veldt’s album Afrodisiac, produced by Ray Shulman (The Sundays, Bjork, The Sugarcubes), in the top 50 shoegaze albums ever released, while Stereogum included “Until You’re Forever” in the top 31 shoegaze tracks. Their sound also inspired future generations of alternative artists, including TV On the Radio.
The brothers got their musical start via the church and southern juke-joints, under the influence of gospel, Motown and Pink Floyd. The Veldt initially signed with Mammoth Records before a chain of major-label relationships that saw the group tour the USA and Europe with Throwing Muses, Pixies, Cocteau Twins and Jesus & Mary Chain.
Having collaborated with TV On The Radio, Mos Def, Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite), A.R.Kane over the years, The Veldt has also toured / played with Violent Femmes, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, Manic Street Preachers, Phantogram, Modern English, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Oasis, Chuck D, Living Colour and Schooly D.
On November 24, Illuminated 1989 will be released on vinyl, CD, cassette and digitally. It can be ordered on vinyl at https://littlecloudrecords.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-veldt-illuminated-1989-pre-order or via Bandcamp (all formats) at https://theveldtmusic.bandcamp.com/album/illuminated-1989
The Veldt is currently touring – from October through December, they’ll be hitting many cities, performing at Levitation Festival (with The Dandy Warhols and The Black Angels) and at Seattle’s KEXP.
CREDITS
Illuminated 1989 released via 5BC Records and Little Cloud Records
Danny Chavis – guitar
Daniel Chavis – vocals, guitar, lyrics
Marvin Levi – drums
Joseph Hue Boyle – bass
Elizabeth Fraser – additional vocals
Robin Guthrie – programming, additional guitars
Lincoln Fong – programming
Written by Danny and Daniel Chavis
Recorded and produced at September Sound by Robin Guthrie
Live photos of The Veldt shot by Alice Teeple
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
Please also enjoy the band’s latest few videos:
The Veldt
[Single]
(Little Cloud Records/5BC Records)
Release Date: October 30, 2023
TOUR DATES
FRI 10/27 = Dallas, TX @ TBA
SAT 10/28 = Austin, TX @ the Far Out Lounge (LEVITATION Festival)
MON 11/27 = Atlanta, GA @ 529
TUE 11/28 = Birmingham, AL @ TBA
WED 11/29 = New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
THU 11/30 = Houston, TX @ 1810 Ojeman
FRI 12/1 = Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas
SAT 12/2 = Silver City, NM @ Whiskey Creek Zocalo w/ Tremours
SUN 12/3 = Phoenix, AZ @ Linger Longer Lounge w/ Tremours
MON 12/4 = San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar w/ Tremours
TUE 12/5 = Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers w/ Tremours
WED 12/6 = San Francisco, CA @ Kilowatt w/ Tremours
THU 12/7 = Portland, OR @ Show Bar w/ Tremours
FRI 12/8 = Seattle, WA @ the Central Saloon (TremoloFest) w/ Tremours
SAT 12/9 = Vancouver, BC @ TBA
SUN 12/10 = Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown w/ Tremours)
MON 12/11 = Eugene, OR @ Old Nick’s w/ Tremours
TUE 12/12 = Olympia, WA @ Le Voyeur w/ Tremours
WED 12/13 = Tacoma, WA @ TBA
THU 12/14 = Seattle, WA @ KEXP
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