Independent Rock News: 604 Records announces the release of 'Then and Now' by cult shoegazers Movieland
 |
| Photo Credit: No Rules PR |
Movieland was established by singer-guitarist Alan D. Boyd, An Edmonton musician who was briefly the bassist for the Montreal garage act The Gruesomes before relocating to Vancouver in 1991. Here, he started working at Benny’s Bagels alongside drummer Justin Leigh. The pair's love for all things Britsh led them to reach out to bassist John Ounpuu to complete the lineup for Movieland.
Boyd recounts the earlier days as chaotic “We were doing long songs, and they were noisy,” Boyd sums up the earliest Movieland material. Recorded at the now-defunct Downtown Sound, their four-song debut cassette—now kicking off Then & Now—reflected in tracks like “Rant” and “Everything.” Boyd recalls, “Things got loud; bass amps exploded; speakers got kicked in.” Their sound was influenced by the Vancouver rave culture and late-night hangouts. “There were a lot of drugs in Vancouver at that time,” Boyd contextualizes. “I never really liked weed, but everybody seemed to smoke it, and there was an interest in psychedelics amongst the people that we were all friends with. It definitely informed what we were doing, that cannot be denied.”
Boyd soon moved into "The Mansion," a dilapidated rental in Vancouver's upscale Shaughnessy neighbourhood that housed a mix of struggling musicians and artists, by the time Movieland began writing their second demo. “The neighbours called the police the day we moved in because they thought we were breaking in,” Boyd laughs. “We’d rehearse and throw massive parties, but nobody heard anything outside because the house was really well soundproofed.”Deep within the walls of “The Mansion,” Boyd started to create a series of layered shoegaze songs using a borrowed Tascam 8-track. Among these tracks was the captivating song “I Relate.” Boyd explains, “It’s about being in a state of flux after meeting someone.” He reflects on how playing that kind of angsty, self-referential music in the ‘90s felt distinct, especially with the grunge scene developing next door—it was a time that felt very exposed.
Movieland struggled for exposure despite a small but dedicated fanbase buying tapes and attending off-the-grid indie shows. They never secured a breakthrough gig, despite an A&R scout showing interest, and ironically signing the opening band. After Ounpuu and Leigh left to form the pop-driven quartet, Pluto, Boyd joined bassist Cam Cunningham and drummer Clancy Denehy to track two final tracks “Build Me a Dream” and “She’s a Mountain.” Boyd liked the playful nickname “My Bloody Alantine,” thinking, “If I’m achieving that on an 8-track, then I’m pretty happy.” This brief happiness did not last, as Boyd disbanded Movieland in 1994 and relocated to the UK to work as a roadie for SNFU.
Order Movieland’s Album Then & Now
https://movieland1990.bandcamp.com/album/then-now
When 604 Records founder, Jonathan Simki reached out years later about the old music, Boyd rediscovered tapes and live footage to compile Then & Now. This nostalgic project has reignited his shoegazing spirit, with new Movieland tracks on the way through 604 Decades. “It’s a good time to do this,” he shares. “People who were part of that scene will get a kick out of this again.” This release marks a significant moment for 604 Records, launching the 604 Decades project to celebrate Vancouver’s rich, often overlooked musical history. By spotlighting Movieland and other local acts from the ‘90s and early 2000s, the label aims to revive memories of a vibrant alternative music scene. Future releases will include an album by Pure in 2025, further expanding its mission to unearth Vancouver’s hidden musical narratives.
D I S C O V E R
Label: https://www.604records.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/MOVIELANDband
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/movielandband/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VFQ1YUZsKowCvVfmyddsG
Comments
Post a Comment