4 out of 5

Produced by: ?

Label: self-released

Here’s what matters: Considering this was recorded, like, twenty plus years after the original – the band reconvened for some live shows and dropped a limited picture disc of a newly-captured version of their classic album, Retreat from the Sun – it sounds phenomenal.  The instrumental interplay, strings and all, is sharp as it was on disc, and Anna’s vocals and the harmonies haven’t missed a beat.  The slightly ‘live’ sound to things, in that it’s raw around the edges, lacking producer Brad Wood’s lovely shine, is equally charming, noting that ‘love’ and ‘raw’ here are pretty relative: At most points, the band is so tight you could mistake these retakes for the originals.

Some minor changes in the songs make them of interest as alternates, but otherwise I feel like the B side of the LP is better, the band adding more energy later in their set than what could be perceived on the recorded version.

Here’s what’s less important, because the people buying this are already fans: the recording isn’t great – lots of pops and clicks – and some dropped choruses / lines and slightly wonky keys at very select moments can make you wonder if these were flubs, recording mishaps, or purposeful changes.  Does it matter?  Not really at all, because, yeah, we is fans.