Who knows why some bands only attain cult status whilst less talented bands reap commercial rewards? In the case of New York trio Springhouse, that question is all the more puzzling. In many ways they were too far ahead of the curve; shoegaze before the term was coined, they signed to Caroline Records and were the first major label band of their ilk to tour the USA. In doing so they blazed a trail for others to follow, as those waiting in the wings refined their modus operandi for mass consumption. If the band were bitter it didn’t show, and after a lengthy hiatus they returned with their third album, From Now To OK. Originally released as a limited edition CD in 2008, it showed that the band had lost none of their flair for writing a heartfelt tune and now gets a loving reissue along with a bonus disc of rarities that demands some overdue reappraisal.

It’s always a bit risky when a band returns with a new album after a period of absence, they can either try to recreate their old magic (which is often strangely unsatisfying), or a band can endeavour to make the album they would have made had they not gone on hiatus (which is often fraught with risk). From Now To OK works because it inhabits the space somewhere betwixt the two; fans of Springhouse’s original tenure will be enamoured by the album’s dreamy aesthetic, yet the band have taken a more acoustic, folk rock turn, and it’s one that puts a fresh spin on familiar themes. It’s an approach best exemplified by opening track ‘Passion’. Like a scene from a David Lynch film it seems to emanate as if from another dimension, capturing that magical moment between wake and sleep it has (like all the tracks on this disc) an otherworldly quality that places the listener in an altered state. It’s music that’s often at odds with a lyrical realism that explores the minutiae of modern life. Tracks such as ‘No More Yesterdays’ are vignettes played out over three minutes and makes for a nice foil for the dreamy and the real.

Springhouse remained Anglophiles at heart and there’s a definite Beatles influence going on here, not only in the sweet harmonies and song structures, but also the backward masked, swirling psychedelia. ‘Never Impossible’ recalls Nick Drake at his most whimsical and melancholy, and the whole album feels quintessentially English, as if born beneath rainy Manchester skies. However, the band also pull from their own culture and there’s a touch of Burt Bacharach in the songsmithery and also Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys; the sound of a door closing which concludes the album is the kind of trick Brian Wilson would have pulled from the hat. It would be unfair to draw comparisons with other bands; sure, Springhouse have their influences (and what alternative rock band isn’t influenced by The Beatles?), yet they’re merely streams flowing into their river and the body of From Now To OK is all Springhouse.

I’m usually a bit sceptical when it comes to bonus discs; far too often bands will scrape the barrel and excavate tracks that would be better left buried (the expanded edition of American Football is a prime example). However, no such worries here as the tracks comprising the second disc are all top quality. Starting with a selection of instrumentals, these cuts allow the listener to get down into the nuts and bolts of the songs and explore their inner workings. The demos are exactly that, again, they peel back the curtain and give us an insight into the creative workings of the band. Having shared stages with The Psychedelic Furs and The Lemonheads, Springhouse’s live prowess was never in doubt, and these songs bring it into sharp focus. It would have been nice to hear more of the crowd in the mix, their reaction is always a good gauge of how a band is performing, but that’s just a minor quibble and this disc is an enjoyable listen in its own right and makes a worthy addition to the first.

A quick note on Independent Project Records; they’ve done a great job with this release, it’s well designed and thought out, and made from high quality materials. It’s very tactile and nice to hold and enhances the whole experience.

• From Now To OK is released via Independent Project Records and is available now.
• Bandcamp | Instagram

Track List:

Disc One: From Now To OK (Remastered)

1. Passion
2. Moving Van
3. Time Runs Out
4. No More Yesterdays
5. Grateful
6. Pomegranate Tree
7. Sea And Rain
8. Never Impossible
9. Mercedes Marxist
10. Snapshot
11. 10 Count
12. Anew

Disc Two: Demos And Live Recordings

1. Passion (Instrumental)
2. Time Runs Out (Instrumental)
3. No More Yesterdays (Instrumental)
4. Sea And Rain (Instrumental)
5. Mercedes Marxist (Instrumental)
6. Snapshot (Instrumental)
7. Passion (Demo)
8. Sea And Rain (Demo)
9. Rescue Work (Mercedes Marxist Demo)
10. No One Has To Know (Studio)
11. Open Your Eyes (Live)
12. Passion (Live)
13. Moving Van (Live)
14. Enslave Me (Live)
15. Alley Park (Live)