Whorl - Discography

Artist: Whorl
Album: Mind Revolution 7", The Pre-Moon Syndrome Post-Summer (Of Noise) Celebration Week! Compilation, Maybe It's Better 7", Fortunate Cookie Prize: A Tribute To Beat Happening, Neapolitan Metropolitan 3x7" Compilation, ...One Last Kiss Compilation
Release: 1990, 1990, 1992, 1992, 1992
Label: Slumberland, Sun Dog Propaganda, Slumberland, Simple Machines, Simple Machines, spinART

Tracklist:

Mind Revolution 7" (Slumberland, 1990)

1. Mind Revolution
2. Stupid Shit

The Pre-Moon Syndrome Post-Summer (Of Noise) Celebration Week! Compilation (Sun Dog Propaganda, 1990)

1. White Trash

Maybe It's Better 7" (Slumberland, 1992)

1. Maybe It's Better
2. Christmas

Fortunate Cookie Prize: A Tribute To Beat Happening, Neapolitan Metropolitan 3x7" Compilation (Simple Machines, 1992)

1. This Many Boyfriends Club

Neapolitan Metropolitan 3x7" Compilation (Simple Machines, 1992)

1. Not Me

...One Last Kiss Compilation (spinART, 1992)

1. I Love Her All the Time

As some of you may know, I adore Slumberland Records to the point where it's awkward and uncomfortable and any resulting ridicule is probably warranted. Still, the label was probably the most important discovery of my junior year of high school. I spent countless hours in my room (or video game-friendly basement) listening to Slumberland bands (or similar acts) and cursing my parents for having not met two decades earlier. The classics, such as Black Tambourine or Henry's Dress, were what initially hit me the hardest and left, for better or worse, an immediate and undying impression upon me.

As I began delving deeper into the label's other releases (or, to some, its throwaways,) I realized that I loved absolutely everything from the original incarnation of the label, with these "throwaways" holding more weight with me than the label giants. Whorl is the best example of this, as they've become not only my favorite Slumberland act (well, maybe tied with Henry's Dress!), but one of my favorite bands ever.

I discovered Whorl as I began to further investigate Black Tambourine and its satellite projects. Pam Berry, being the focal point of the band for many, compelled me to check out Glo-Worm first, and, while I do find them to be great, they had nothing on my next, non-Pam Berry discovery: Whorl.

I suppose the band used to be called Big Jesus Trash Can, though I have never heard their cassingle or anything else they may have released, but I do know they had a very free-form, Birthday Party-inspired sound that can not only be found in sister projects such as Powderburns, but their earliest material, particularly the Mind Revolution 7" from 1990. This 7" is the best example of this particular sound of theirs, highlighting the aggressive and primitive post-punk sound. "Stupid Shit," in particular stands out, with the vocalist's signature deep wailing exclaiming and threatening violence and bloody murder.

They followed up that 7" with something even greater: the Maybe It's Better 7", a release that stands as one of my favorite singles from the label, which, to me, rivals other 7" gems such as the Lilys' February Fourteenth, Stereolab's John Cage Bubblegum, and, well, my list could go on and on because I care too much. The point is that it's really fucking good. I suppose you could follow that link for a more detailed description of it, but if you're too lazy or uncaring, it's the moment when the band took a more pop approach to their sound, creating a shoegaze mini-masterpiece.

Mind Revolution and Maybe It's Better are the only two solo efforts from the band, but they were featured on at least four other compilations. These contributions range from mildly interesting diversions (the live "White Trash" and their cover of Beat Happening's "The This Many Boyfriends Club") to stronger material that is more than worth your time. Of the two excellent compilation songs, the Simple Machines track, "Not Me" is a definite growth from the sound heard on Mind Revolution, maintaining the band's noisy edge, but with an added melodic feel. "I Love Her All The Time," from the classic spinART compilation ...One Last Kiss, is the band's longest and more droning moment, resembling earlier Powderburns jams. It's a lazier Whorl that is less driven, yet, in exchange, is DMT-worthy in its ability to induce a trance-like state.

I guess this is a long write-up for a band that only had two 7"s, a handful of comp tracks, and that is all-but-forgotten, but I think they deserve all the time I've spent writing this. As I sit here typing, my girlfriend (a definite fan of the band) fails to understand how I could find Whorl to be my favorite Slumberland band and thinks I'm crazy for it. She's probably onto something, but that doesn't stop me from making these outlandish claims.

<3whorl<3

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-Adam