{"product_id":"the-orchids-unholy-soul","title":"The Orchids - Unholy Soul","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe early summer bloom of 1992 felt like it had been pollinated by a lot of sunshine-loving records from the year before, optimistic headrushes that embraced hedonistic bliss or at least a sweeter ride. There was still an element of bedroom wistfulness to singles like \u003cem\u003eHigher Than The Sun\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eNothing Can Stop Us\u003c\/em\u003e and even \u003cstrong\u003eParis Angels\u003c\/strong\u003e’ \u003cem\u003ePerfume\u003c\/em\u003e but there was no denying the appeal that techno, rave and Bleep held, especially when it was microdosed. Bands were more willing to experiment with technology and producers, if not necessarily going for all whistles-blazing club bangers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Orchids, hailing from the suburbs of Glasgow were unlikely to ever emerge from their hood as contenders for a deal on Soma Records (which had begun in 1991 in that city) but they evidently wanted to stretch their boundaries beyond their introverted debut. \u003cem\u003eUnholy Soul\u003c\/em\u003e is somewhat breezier than \u003cem\u003eLyceum\u003c\/em\u003e. It’s still laced with a Scottish melancholy but there’s more breathing space within the production. They’d hinted as much on their 12” \u003cem\u003ePenetration\u003c\/em\u003e EP from 1991 and lovelorn songs such as \u003cem\u003eWaiting For The Storm\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ePeaches\u003c\/em\u003e are now spiked by absent-minded cherubs with an ear for the 3.a.m comedown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs lead singer \u003cstrong\u003eJames Hackett\u003c\/strong\u003e says today: “Unholy Soul was the first time we had spent more than a couple of days in the studio, doing so after work. It was a thrilling period of creativity and we had most of the songs written but not enough. We didn’t worry about that too much though because with \u003cstrong\u003eIan Carmichael\u003c\/strong\u003e there was a new opportunity for studio generation. Also this was the first time we had heard \u003cstrong\u003ePauline (Hynds)\u003c\/strong\u003e singing with \u003cstrong\u003eOne Dove\u003c\/strong\u003e so we asked her to sing on some of the songs. We were obviously influenced by a lot of the music of the time but you can still hear it’s The Orchids at heart”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe next year of course One Dove (with Carmichael programming) released their debut album - produced by \u003cstrong\u003eAndrew Weatherall\u003c\/strong\u003e - on the Boy’s Own label. It felt like there was a lot of ideas being spun back and forth between artists and producers in the early 90s. If some of the records also sound very much of \u003cem\u003ethat\u003c\/em\u003e time that’s no bad thing either. There was a lot of loved-up nostalgia for the 60s then so it’s no surprise that many of the records have a youthful exuberance coupled to a technological innocence, that’s the charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“The Orchids have a lightness of touch, an autumnal and mellow fruitfulness, a clear-eyed pop nous. Imagine some nexus that takes in Felt, Orange Juice, The Beach Boys and The Go-Betweens”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-\u003cstrong\u003eStuart Maconie\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“The Orchids can come on like esoteric angels high on Felt and Massive Attack”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e– \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Mulvey, NME\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Circuitry","offers":[{"title":"Limited Edition Translucent Pink 2LP","offer_id":58834464309593,"sku":"SDZ-50391","price":32.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/SRD_20260813_1207_110803_368_p_PLEXUS006_001.jpg?v=1786620063","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/the-orchids-unholy-soul","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}