Sofa – Source Crossfire 2LP Constellation

A searing, brooding collection documenting the recorded output of one of Montreal’s most shadowy, notorious, captivating underground art-rock ensembles of the mid-90s (and the first band to be released on renowned indie label Constellation). In the words of one music writer of the era: “Like Slint and Big Black meeting for a Joy Division reunion.” Charting the quartet’s febrile evolution through the sonic palettes of North American post-hardcore and slowcore admixed with early UK post-punk, goth and dark lounge, Source Crossfire rounds up Sofa’s 1997 album Grey (originally released on CD only) along with selections from two prior self-released cassettes. Record #1 reimagines Grey, newly sequenced to create distinct loud/fast and soft/slow vinyl sides. Record #2 mirrors this, with four tracks of intense pitch-black material on Side One and three early examples of Sofa’s sombre balladry on Side Two, culled from the band’s 1995 cassette material. Source Crossfire aptly names the unique mix of genres and influences distilled in Sofa’s cauldron – a treat for anyone interested in the fertile crosscurrents of UK + US post-punk, post-hardcore, slowcore, goth and art rock that spawned such a diverse slate of unsung bands with distinct energies, personalities, and hybrid sonic identities across so many local scenes in the 1990s. Remastered by Jace Lasek, Harris Newman and Sofa guitarist Ian llavsky (also Constellation co-founder and ex-Silver Mt Zion member). 2x180gLP pressed at Optimal Germany with gatefold jacket, printed inners, and two 12″x24″ art posters featuring the photography of acclaimed visual artist (and Sofa vocalist) Brad Todd.