Lush Is the Latest Band to Join the Shoegaze Revival

For the last 3 – 4 years, fans of shoegaze’s first generation have been rejoicing as their old favorites have reformed, started touring again, and/or released new music. My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Slowdive, Swervedriver, and Alison’s Halo have all returned to re-bliss their fans. And now, Lush have joined the shoegaze revival.

Originally formed in 1987, the band quickly gained popularity in the early-to-mid ’90s thanks to a series of excellent releases, including 1992’s Spooky and 1994’s Split. Generally speaking, Lush’s sound was more aggressive and direct than their peers, but the edginess was tempered by Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson’s perfect harmonies, which imbued their music with a sweeping ethereality. Sadly, the band’s drummer, Chris Acland, committed suicide in 1996, and Lush disbanded shortly thereafter.

Return to the present, and after some “suspicious” activity on social media, Lush made the announcement on their Facebook page:

We’ve been away for ages and ages, but we’re really excited to announce that we’re finally ready to reform as Lush. For all the fans who have been pestering us to do this: thanks so much for your patience and support! We wish it could have been sooner but, for many years, it was just too painful to contemplate without Chris, and then all kinds of life-changing commitments made it impossible. Now, at last, the three of us are in the right place at the right time to play music together again.

The band will play their first show in two decades on May 6, 2016, at London’s Roundhouse venue. (Elastica’s Justin Welch will join the band on drums.) What’s more, 4AD will be releasing Lush’s “best of” compilation Ciao! on vinyl as well as a nigh-comprehensive reissue of the band’s catalog titled Chorus.

Spread over five CDs and housed in a beautiful hardbound book (designed by long-time associate Chris Bigg), Chorus consists of all three studio albums, both singles compilations and a wealth of previously unreleased demos, radio sessions, remixes and rarities. The limited edition box set will be released at the beginning of December, dependent on territory, and preceded by the worldwide vinyl reissue of Lush’s ‘Best Of’ compilation Ciao! in November.

No word yet as to whether Lush will be recording new material or not, but it’s clear that Berenyi, Anderson, and Phil King are re-emerging from a painful past, so one step at a time. In the meantime, here are a few videos to remind you why Lush was — is — so brilliant.