Galaxie 500 ‎– Peel Sessions

John Peel, during two sessions in 1989 and the other in 1990, cures, nurtures, and distills the liquid essence of Galaxie 500 ... who in their own fashion strike new versions of their own, and cover material, that branches between what Joy Division were, and what Galaxie 500 are ... though not for long, as Dean Wareham, the driving force behind this magical band will soon leave to form his own group, Luna.

From the opening track “Submission,” a Sex Pistols cover, and punk anthem of rage, they transform this piece of music into a brilliant, almost unrecognizable floating, sonically ethereal number of sheer excellence. Under a delicate interplay of bass and electric guitars Galaxie 500 bury the hard edged riffs to the point that one would think that The Sex Pistols had covered a Galaxie 500 song, shortening it, and driving the song home with all of their simple three chord raw power. Other songs like Buffy Sainte Marie’s “Moonshot,” are handled skillfully, with grace and nuance. There’s a palpable hollowness to the music of Galaxie 500 which is created by slowing the songs down, and then filling the spaces with ethereal bliss, and swirling electronics.

Both of the sessions are more than well done and well considered, though eight tracks seems a bit short changed if you ask me ... but since no one did, I’ll take what I can get. There have been minor changes to many of the songs that gives them new life, and resonate with a luster seldom heard. On the song “Blue Thunder,” from the album On Fire, there’s a guitar solo that’s much spacier than the original, while the other songs have elements that the band finds delightful, branching out and extending them, as they might during a live performance.

Galaxie 500 sounds tight as ever, perhaps more so, and one can not walk away from this album without understanding why this band, like The Velvet Underground, will be revered for all time.

Covers:
"Submission" by The Sex Pistols
"Final Day" by Young Marble Giants
"Moonshot" by Buffy Sainte Marie
"Don't Let Our Youth Go To Waste" by Johnathan Richmond