Drop Nineteens unearth a lost chapter with 1991
Legendary shoegaze band Drop Nineteens release 1991, a long-revered precursor to their iconic debut Delaware, fully remastered for the first time.
Produced by: Drop Nineteens
The album consists of Drop Nineteens’ first two demo sessions, originally recorded in 1991 on an 8-track reel-to-reel, often traded among fans under the title Mayfield (1991). These tracks, which generated early buzz and led to the band’s signing with Caroline Records, have remained largely untouched until now. Rather than re-recording them for their debut, the band opted to create Delaware from scratch, leaving 1991 as an artifact of their earliest ambitions. The newly remastered release showcases lo-fi charm, textured guitar swells, and buried vocal harmonies—elements that drew comparisons to UK shoegaze pioneers like Slowdive and Ride.
Reflecting on the release, frontman Greg Ackell shares:
“These songs were written and recorded in 1991 on an 8-track reel-to-reel largely in our dorm rooms. We called them demos at the time, but now they’re just unreleased Drop Nineteens’ songs that never benefited from the fidelity of a recording studio. We remastered them, some 33 years later for this release, but they still evoke our infancy as a band.”
With 1991 finally receiving an official release, Drop Nineteens continues their triumphant return, giving fans both new and old a deeper look into their shoegaze origins. 1991 is out now via Wharf Cat Records.
Standout Songs: ‘Daymom,’ ‘Shannon Waves,’ and ‘Another Summer.’
Release Date: February 7
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We’ve covered Drop Nineteens previously: ‘Mayfield,’ and ‘Shannon Waves.’
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