Search - Hope Blister :: Underarms & Sideways

Originally released in 1999 as part of 4AD's mail order/internet-only series, "Underarms" is an engaging and largely instrumental collection of outtakes from the band's "...smile's ok" sessions. Though the debut album consisted solely of covers, five of the seven tracks here are originals, and the disc provides a darkly ambient companion to "...smile's ok". The gorgeous, minimalist drone to both parts of "Sweet Medicine" provides a cyclical lean, and a couple tracks are downright sinister, on par with any of Main's harrowing soundscapes. This re-issue has new packaging and is a double disc containing the original album along with a second disc, all remixed by German electronic artist Markus Guentner (Kompakt Records).