The Chills - 'Kaleidoscope World' is set to be reissued on expanded 2xLP Vinyl & CD set on August 19.
Kaleidoscope World is not just the starting point for The Chills, but an insight into the world of New Zealand guitar-pop and the ‘Dunedin Sound’ – an influence which carries on to indie-pop bands around the world today. Originally released in 1986, the compilation captures the best of the magical early period recordings of The Chills and simply oozes excitement and possibility. While, the new reissue will be on a deluxe 2xLP and CD set, and will feature six bonus, b-sides, demos and live tracks plus an expanded gatefold cover with photos, posters and liner notes from journalist Martin Aston.
LISTEN TO PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACK - 'ONCOMING DAY (EARLY VERSION)' HERE:
It was a sound in part born out of geography and location, with the spaciousness and remoteness of New Zealand itself matched with the glowing songs of chief Chill - Martin Phillipps - a music savant that somehow wrangles psychedelic pop and folk, Syd Barrett and Brian Wilson, all with Phillipps’ innate ability to sound both joyous and sad within a moment.
What was initially 8 songs (later expanded to 18 and now 24) have a unique bittersweet innocence from the title track through to the happy - sad aura of “Frantic Drift” and “Rolling Moon.” And amongst all the fragile melodies mixed with a childlike wonder, is “Pink Frost” – for many The Chills’ most beloved track – an eerie, haunting track, the band’s first ‘hit,' perhaps the Flying Nun equivalent of “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. Surrounded by the aura of death following a dream Phillipps’ had, it also touches on a sense of desolation and yearning for a connection to the wider world and is no better example of the marvelous songwriting ability of this band from the world's southernmost point.