Elastica are set to reissue their seminal self-titled debut album – check out all the details below.
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The Britpop band split up in 2001, but appeared to tease something late last month on social media. At the time, they didn’t say if this would involve new music, live performances or archive re-releases. However, the group did confirm that the project would represent their first significant action since they released the remastered version of their debut for Record Store Day 2017.
After winning the Best New Band prize at the 1994 NME Awards, that album became one of the defining releases of the Britpop era, topping the UK Albums Chart and including the singles ‘Connection’, ‘Line Up’ and ‘Stutter’. It went on to be named as one of NME’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time – and became the fastest-selling debut album since Oasis’ ‘…Morning Glory’.
Now, they’ve shared news of a packed reissue featuring rarities and B-sides, while the vinyl edition includes a poster of the original advert for the album, which has been recreated from the band’s own personal archive. Limited edition LP pre-orders will also receive a limited original flexi disc of ‘Cleopatra’ dating from 1995.
Speaking about the release, Elastica said they were proud of the record and “everything it represents”, adding: “Releasing this album in 1995 was a defining moment for all of us. After 30 years, to see these songs still hold meaning for people is very special to us.”
Tracklisting (2LP):
‘Line Up’
‘Annie’
‘Connection’
‘Car Song’
‘Smile’
‘Hold Me Now’
‘S.O.F.T.’
‘Indian Song’
‘Blue’
‘All-Nighter’
‘Waking Up’
‘2:1′
‘Vaseline’
‘Never Here’
‘Stutter’
‘See That Animal’
‘Spastica’
‘Cleopatra’
‘Car Wash’
‘Blue’ (Donna’s 4-Track Demo)
‘Brighton Rock’
‘In The City’ (BBC Radio 1 Session)
‘Pussycat’
‘Rockunroll’ (BBC Radio 1 Session)
‘Gloria’ (BBC Radio 1 Session)
Rough Trade Records have taken on stewardship of the record, which will be reissued in full on October 2 – you can pre-order it here.
Elastica were formed by guitarist and singer Justine Frischmann and drummer Justin Welch in 1992 after their departure from Suede, joined in the original line-up by guitarist Donna Matthews and bassist Annie Holland.
After a turbulent five-year wait after their seismic debut, Elastica returned with their second and final album ‘The Menace’ in 2000, with Frischmann confirming that the group had split the following year.
Reunion rumours were sparked in January 2017 when Matthews, Holland and Welch were pictured together at Abbey Road Studios, but it later emerged that they had been working on the remastered reissue of ‘Elastica’ that year.
Frischmann also revealed in 2017 that M.I.A. had asked the band to reunite for her Meltdown Festival in London, and though she said she was “tempted” by the offer, the reunion did not end up taking place.
Earlier this year, former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur recalled being invited to join Elastica during the ’90s, after Holland experienced difficulties with heroin withdrawal. She had been due to play at Lollapalooza, but Hole’s management prevented her from accepting the invite.
“It was a very cool offer, but not cool that I had to say no,” she told NME. “When Elastica came out with that Britpop post-punk attitude combined with pop catchiness, they were an exciting anomaly.”
