US / THEM: Antarctica (ex-Christie Front Drive) release 81:03, rare 1999 album remastered & first time on vinyl via Solid Brass Records

Friday, September 15, 2023

Antarctica (ex-Christie Front Drive) release 81:03, rare 1999 album remastered & first time on vinyl via Solid Brass Records

Photo: Chrissy Piper

“Essential Dream Pop: Blending the saccharine pop pleasures of mid-era OMD, the hearty gloom of Comsat Angels, and the dizzying hooks of The Ocean Blue, 81:03 is far ahead of its time in scope.” — Post-Punk

Solid Brass Records today releases the reissue, and first time ever on vinyl, of 81:03, the sprawling masterwork of NYC synth/dream pop band Antarctica. The short lived band achieved cult status for the 1999 album, originally released on File 13 Records. Hear/share the singles, "Tektur the Water", "Chrome Selected" and "Absence" on all streaming platforms HERE.

After the breakup of popular Denver band Christie Front Drive singer/guitarist Eric Richter moved to Brooklyn and started Antarctica with other members from the local scene.

After touring in the summer of 1997 in support of their CD/EP 23:03, the band sequestered themselves for several months as they dove deep into the sounds of the NYC electronic music scene, revisited some of their favorite musical output from bands like The Church and Slowdive, and worked to meld the two musical aesthetics into something new and interesting.

In 1999 they enlisted Alap Momin (Dälek, The Lapse) to engineer and produce 81:03 in a way that both captured their electronic explorations and paid homage to their indie heritage. The result was extraordinary! The swooning, syncopated pop of New Order, the dark chill of Pornography-era Cure, the hypnotic pulse of Underworld, and the guitar harmonies of Ride and For Against. Originally released as a 2xCD in 1999 on File 13 Records, 81:03 is an expansive and textured example of electronic-infused shoegaze music. It is dark, contemplative, and at the same time eerily uplifting. Almost 25 years later, 81:03 still feels fresh; like a modern soundtrack for those seeking moments of beauty in an increasingly troubled world.

Remastered in 2023 by Collin Jordan at The Boiler Room in Chicago, IL. This is the first time any Antarctica material has appeared on vinyl.

81:03 is available on limited edition 2xLP on opaque white vinyl and digital on September 15, 2023 via Solid Brass Records. Orders are available HERE.