New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Sutton Records) - Years before
Nada Surf became "
Popular" in 1996, vocalist/guitarist Matthew Caws and bassist
Daniel Lorca were members of a noisier and trippier East Coast quartet called Because Because Because (https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/becausebb).
Featuring British singer Robert Randall and hardcore drummer Blake Gomez, Because Because Because developed a regional underground following in the early '90s, but the group's songs were locked in the vaults and remained unreleased until now. Because Because Because's long-overdue self-titled debut consists of six tracks that were recorded in 1991 and 1992, all of which include future Nada Surf stars Caws on guitars and backing vocals and Lorca on bass and backing vocals.
Despite that one-half of the line-up would eventually form Nada Surf, Because Because Because reflect a different era and attitude, blending the moody, English post-punk angst of Echo & the Bunnymen and the Jesus & Mary Chain with the guitar snarl of American college-radio icons the Pixies and Sonic Youth. The leadoff single, "Holler," blasts into hyper speed with a Bunnymen-like stadium roar and a bracing New Order drone. "I'm incredibly proud of it. The pain of bringing together diverse musical approaches and influences resulted in some great material," Randall explained.
Born from the ashes of the underground band The Cost of Living, Because Because Because had a short-lived yet promising existence that eventually blew a fuse due to personal differences. "It certainly wasn't smooth sailing, that's for sure," Randall revealed. "I had just arrived in New York from London, bringing with me all of my English influences and cockiness. We had completely different ways of working. I think we all learned a lot from each other. We also fought a lot. The three of them were better musicians than me. I was a stronger songwriter and didn't care too much about musicianship, which used to piss Matthew off. Every time we did a song I would sing it slightly differently according to how I felt at the time. Matthew and Daniel were like machines; they could play the material the same way every time. Blake was caught in the middle. Matthew was very headstrong in those days, never having a problem telling Blake and I how we should do something. We resisted, wanting to do things in our ways. Our rehearsals were often very unpleasant affairs. Nevertheless, apparently great things came from adversity." Eventually, the group fell apart. Caws and Lorca continued working together in Nada Surf while Gomez split to "play harder music with like-minded peers." (Gomez also recently released his first solo effort, the metallic Regret Destroys You Tonight).
Because Because Because's self-titled CD is now available on CDBaby and downloads on iTunes, and will soon be available on all other major online distribution outlets. Nearly forgotten in the alternative-rock revolution of the early '90s, Because Because Because will now reach a wide audience that hadn't heard them before as well as refresh the memories of those who did. "I am told that we were loved," Randall said. "But, to be honest, I can't remember - I was usually stoned back then."
