Merge Ready to Help You Clean Up

While immersed in my countdown of UK indie singles, there were quite a few new releases and reissues in the news I thought worthy of mention. Let's begin with New Zealand's the Clean. I was first in line when the double-disc 'Anthology' hit the shops more than a decade ago. At the time, all of that Flying Nun material was nearly impossible to find, at least here in America, and Merge's offering was like manna. At that time, I was particularly into the quirky, unpolished and downright noisy songs from the early days, like "Tally Ho!" and "Beatnik," but I quickly learned that these lads grew out of that Dunedin Sound to become accomplished pop purveyors.

Last year, it was announced Flying Nun was teaming up with Brooklyn label Captured Tracks for a reissue series, on vinyl, no less. The Clean's full-length debut, 'Vehicle,' was among the first of these releases, and if you already have 'Anthology,' I recommend you pick up this one while it's still cheap and in print. If you don't have 'Anthology,' start saving your shekels because, as part of Merge's 25th anniversary reissue series, 'Anthology' will be released on vinyl for the first time on July 15. It takes a whopping four LPs to cram the 46 songs on wax. So, this is a little expensive ($43.98 though the label), but well worth it. The Clean are coming over to participate in Merge's anniversary festivities, and they are making a few stops along the way. If they are coming to your town, I expect a full report. Thanks in advance.

The Clean on Tour
Aug. 18 Chicago — Schubas
Aug. 19 Detroit — Trinosophes
Aug. 22 Brooklyn — Glasslands
Aug. 23 Baltimore — Metro Gallery
Aug. 25 Carrboro, N.C. — Cat's Cradle - Back Room
Aug. 26 Atlanta — The Earl
Aug. 27 Birmingham, Ala. — The Bottletree Cafe
Aug. 28 Memphis — Hi-Tone Cafe
Aug. 29 Nashville — The Stone Fox
Aug. 30 Asheville, N.C. — Harvest Records Transfigurations II

From 'Anthology'...


And From 'Vehicle'...