¡Simpatico! (Opaque Jade Blue & Opaque Violet Vinyl)
- ¡Simpatico! (Remastered and Expanded) gives Velocity Girl’s long out-of-print 1994 sophomore album, ¡Simpatico!, an overdue refresh with a sparkling-fresh mastering job and a treasure trove of bonus tracks from the ¡Simpatico! era. The original album sounds better than ever, and it’s complemented by a full album of B-sides and rarities. Velocity Girl formed in 1989 or so at the University of Maryland outside Washington DC with guitarist Archie Moore (Black Tambourine), guitarist Brian Nelson (Black Tambourine), drummer Jim Spellman (Starry Eyes, Foxhall Stacks, High Back Chairs, Julie Ocean, Piper Club), bassist Kelly Riles (Starry Eyes), and singer Sarah Shannon (Starry Eyes, The Not Its). The band combined English-inspired noisy shoegaze fuzz with scrappy US indie rock and classic ‘60s-style pop songwriting. A killer single on Slumberland and non-stop touring grabbed the attention of the indie-rock cognoscenti, and soon after Velocity Girl signed a contract with Sub Pop on a car hood in Hoboken, New Jersey. After touring in support of their debut, Copacetic, the band spent the better part of a year coming up with a batch of songs for a second album. They had never worked that way before – having focused time, and a budget (from a label!), to make an album that wasn’t a self-produced, punk-rock studio thing was a fresh experience. Having played their new material for months in the noisy style of Copacetic, the band found themselves excited about the tunes, but trying to move away from the scrappy, amateur vibe of their previous records. And their influences were a bit different this time around: less My Bloody Valentine and Wedding Present, more New Order. This expanded reissue adds a number of songs recorded at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, VA, a few months after the album sessions. These sessions provided playfully experimental B sides to the album’s singles, two cover songs (the New Order cover “Your Silent Face”, and a Beach Boys cover) for a single on Merge Records, and a compilation track.
CD - THE BELFAST SESSIONS
This, our latest collection of songs, was recorded at RedBox Studios in Belfast. We’ve wanted to record there for awhile now and finally the timing was right for all. Dónal O’Connor one of the owners, produced it with expertise, poise, patience and not a few threats, the main one being “no more Guinness till youse get this track right.” Inspirational words indeed! He was somehow able to corral us and steer us in the right direction on each song. I’m sure he’d love to work with us again – maybe! We had a great time all together recording there, and hopefully dear fans you’ll enjoy listening. In these uncertain times remember, music hath charms to soothe a savage breast. I think that was a quote from Paul McCartney, or possibly Bob Dylan. Enjoy!
The Belfast Sessions (2025)
Track Listing:
- BOYS OF BELFAST
- BELFAST BOOZELEERS
- DOWN BY THE LAGAN SIDE
- IRISH NAVIES
- MY BELFAST LOVE
- A NIGHT IN BUSHMILLS
- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
- I’LL TELL YOU BOYS IT’S WHISKEY
- PRODIGAL SON
- NEW LINE TO DUBLIN
- PADDY’S DREAM
- SONG FOR BELFAST
- DAYTRIP TO BELFAST
