New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Estonian cult indie label Seksound has become the curator ofbizarre's catalogue for some time, recently re-releasing debutalbum Beautica (1994) and follow-up Café de Flor (1996). NowSeksound is releasing a set of recordings not yet heard in the formof an album.
Recorded and mixed between 1997 and 1998, Necrois the band's third full-length album. Ten tracks in total, a few ofthe songs from the release appeared on compilations throughoutthe years while others have yet to be heard by fans. Consisting of Inga Jagomäe (vocals), Mart Eller (vocals), Anti Aaver(guitar), Tristan Priimägi (guitar), and
Lauri Liivak (electronica),Bizarre first came together in 1992 in Tartu, Estonia. Beautifully crafted Slowdive-esque debut Beautica won the bandsome due attention, making them one of the flagship bands of thenewborn Estonian shoegaze and dreampop scene (including bandslike Pia Fraus, She Bit Her Lip, Picnic); though Bizarre, never wantingto be pegged as a shoegaze or dreampop band, kept experimentingwith electronics and various writing structures.
The result was thestriking, delightful Café de Flor in 1996, an eight-song effort that stillcontained plenty of gaze but added various sample-based rhythmsand a '60s-skewed poppiness. The following year's Any Daycontinued explorations into more modern dance music styles,influenced in part by a support gig playing with
Spring Heel Jackthat year, but that proved to be the band's unexpected finalswansong.
Necro shows Bizarre's elasticity as the tracks move from shoegazeand dreampop infused moments to dance permeated beats andambient textures. Eclectic yet still sounding like the same band,from the wistful vocals of "
Never Ever" to the funk infused"International Love Affair", Necro demonstrates the versatility ofthis foundational group.