VARIOUS – NO SEATTLE 1986-1997/1

The underground music scene of the North-west of America arose from the early 1980s, initially as a marginalised phenomenon with barely a handful of adherents, strung out in isolated towns across the vast state of Washington. In its early days bands who showed an allegiance to their roots of punk risked social ostracism and worse. Yet, by 1991, the biggest band in the world – Nirvana- had been born from this community of outsiders. Sub Pop Records subsequently became “a new Motown” with Seattle substituting for Detroit. The Soul Jazz label now has a new compilation aimed at fleshing out part of the so-called hidden history of the era and the region: No Seattle, which is subtitled, appropriately enough, “Forgotten Sounds of the North-West Grunge Era 1986-97. It features some of the many divergent bands of the late ’80s and early ’90s that emerged out of the region during this era. Intensely researched and documented, this album features many bands who have now disappeared from history, after releasing maybe just a couple of singles, or an album, or even never making it onto vinyl – alongside some bands that continue to this day. With in-depth sleevenotes, interviews with most of the bands, exclusive photography and all tracks sonically remastered, this is a comprehensive double CD (and 2 volumes of 2xLP vinyl releases), bringing together the hidden, lost and forgotten sounds of the North-West grunge era. 17 of the bands on the record played on stage alongside Nirvana between 1987 and 1993, while members of every single band on the record would share a stage with Nirvana in that time period. Attica and Helltrout both feature former full members of Nirvana (Aaron Burckhard – Nirvana’s 1st drummer – and Dave Foster – Nirvana’s 3rd drummer respectively). All the key Seattle producers are on the record: Jack Endino, Conrad Uno, Steve Fisk, John Goodmanson – even Steve Albini is on here.