Whirlpool - The Original Recordings

iTunes Review

With the advent of 21st-century “newgaze” bands, as well as the success of My Bloody Valentine’s reuniting, early Chapterhouse vinyl became eBay gold, especially their 1991 debut LP Whirlpool. The old-school indie kids who turned toward the Reading, England band’s wistful vocal harmonies and lush layers of feedback during a time when grunge ruled the radio are sure to feel like they’re getting a glimpse of the band’s magic in the making. The up-tempo “Breather” opens with rawer resonance in the guitars while the refreshingly under-produced vocals sound more honest and edgy. Without gobs of gloss in the mix, their minor hit “Pearl” sounds more organic, especially the heavenly backing vocals of Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell. A cacophonous cover of the Beatles’ “Rain” is one of the bonus gems here, having only been previously released as a B-side on their 1990 Sunburst EP and “Something More” shows up here in a rare Robin Guthrie-produced version, sounding like a young sibling of Cocteau Twins.