Various Artists - Speedy Wunderground – SXSW EP

Format: 12” white label (in plastic sleeve) – limited edition
Catalogue No.: SWSXSW
Barcode: 5400863144340
Release Date: 17 Nov 2023
Genre: Indie/Alternative

As part of Speedy Wunderground's 10th anniversary year, the label shares details of a new digital and limited edition 12” vinyl release- the SXSW EP - a three song EP (with a vinyl-only Savage Gary fourth bonus track) recorded by Carey on the ground in Austin at 512 Studios.

Who is on the EP?

The EP features contributions from Enumclaw, Revival Season and alexalone.

Enumclaw are an already much-tipped American indie-rock band from Washington DC. They're signed to Luminelle, a Fat Possum imprint, and have recently wowed UK crowds with sets at Wide Awake and with a headline performance at Moth Club.

Revival Season is a collaborative hip-hop duo featuring rapper Brandon 'Bez' Evans and producer/multi-instrumentalist Jonah Swilley and signed to Heavenly Records, the revered independent label who helped Speedy Wunderground find their feet when they first started. The duo performed an incendiary live set at Speedy’s SXSW showcase at Sellers Underground performing alongside The Lounge Society, Heartworms, Miss Tiny (featuring label boss Carey himself), Warmduscher and Been Stellar.

alexalone are an experimental noise-rock trio local to Austin itself, signed to the much-loved US label Polyvinyl, whose debut album ALEXALONEWORLD saw the group pick up significant praise from the likes of The FADER, Stereogum, Paste and more. "Unpacking My Feelings" is the band's first release since last year's cover of "Rainbow" by Japanese doom titans Boris.

The 12” vinyl version also contains a fourth vinyl-only bonus track, Savage Gary (Dan Carey)’s ‘The Grackle’.

How did the EP come about?

Ahead of a planned trip to the US for this year's festival, Dan Carey and Pierre Hall from the label approached a number of artists they admired playing there, asking if they might be interested in recording something for Speedy while they were all in the same place. Progress was made, management conferred, dates lined up, Enumclaw and Revival Season confirmed to put sounds down but - as always with Speedy - there's room for spontaneity.

On the evening of their arrival Carey and Hall, who at this point were some distance from central Austin and the festival itself, heard loud music coming from inside a barn, down a beaten track, on their walk back to their Airbnb. The natural conclusion was to investigate and see who could be making it - so, still holding the plastic bags full of beer and milk they had been transporting back to their digs, they entered and watched said noise-makers.

Following a short conversation later that evening, their prized barn discovery, alexalone, were the next band confirmed to record for them on that trip, heading into the makeshift Speedy studio with Carey a couple of days later.

Pierre Hall had the following to say about the SXSW EP:

"It was so good to be able to spread our wings and take Speedy transatlantic. And obviously as soon as we found out we were going to Austin we immediately started looking at studios. Some of these were actually recorded even quicker than the usual ones in London – often two in one day rather than one. So here we are, still breaking our own records, ten years on.

There’s definitely a distinct difference in the sound of these but despite the strange surroundings and lack of regular equipment it’s clear they are unequivocally Dan, and quintessentially Speedy.

You can take the boy out of Streatham…"

Tracklist:
A1 – Revival Season – Gold Teeth
A2 – Enumclaw – Spots
B1 – alexalone – Unpacking My Feelings
B2 – Savage Gary – The Grackle (vinyl exclusive)

More From This Artist: alexalone Enumclaw Revival Season Savage Gary