ANTARCTICA, the synth and dream pop act from NYC, is having their influential album ’81:03′ beautifully remastered and reissued. This album, held in high regard for its imaginative blend of synth and dream pop influences – with nods to mid-era OMD, the gloomy charm of Comsat Angels, and the unforgettable hooks of The Ocean Blue – is celebrated as a visionary piece ahead of its time, according to Post-Punk.
Solid Brass Records is excited to reveal that this significant work from 1999 will be reissued and, for the first time ever, launched on vinyl. The first single, “Absence,” from the highly revered ’81:03′, can now be enjoyed HERE.
ANTARCTICA was the phoenix that rose from the ashes of the much-loved Denver band, Christie Front Drive. When Eric Richter, the lead vocalist and guitarist of Christie Front Drive, relocated to Brooklyn, he pulled together ANTARCTICA with various talents from the local scene.
The summer of 1997 saw the band tour in support of their CD/EP ’23:03′, but they then immersed themselves into the buzzing NYC electronic music scene. They drew inspiration from their favourite bands, such as The Church and Slowdive, attempting to fuse their sounds into an innovative and compelling blend.
With the production expertise of Alap Momin (known for his work with Dälek and The Lapse), ANTARCTICA released ’81:03′ in 1999, a perfect meld of their electronic forays and indie roots.
With a sound that captures the catchy pop of New Order, the chilling undertones of the Cure during their ‘Pornography’ era, the entrancing rhythms of Underworld, and the harmonic guitars of Ride and For Against, ’81:03′ is a masterful exhibit of electronically tinged shoegaze. Despite its dark and thoughtful undertones, it remains strangely uplifting. More than two decades later, the album still resonates with its fresh, modern feel, providing a soundtrack for those in search of beauty amidst a world fraught with challenges.
The reissue has been meticulously remastered in 2023 by Collin Jordan at The Boiler Room in Chicago, IL, marking the first-ever release of any ANTARCTICA material on vinyl.
The remastered ’81:03′ will be available in a limited-edition 2xLP format on opaque white vinyl and digitally from September 15, 2023, via Solid Brass Records. Pre-orders can be made HERE.
