The very first (that I know of) White Hills release, this 2003 CDr was manufactured and sold by the band at shows and at certain stores around New York City. Although only 100 copies were made, they used to be pretty easy to find at places like Kim’s Underground and Other Music. A few years later they repressed the CDr again in a run of 222 copies.
No Game To Play makes for an excellent introduction to the band’s sound. Although their more recent releases have seen the group push their experimental/ambient aspects into the margins, that backbone of weird swirling samples and far-out noise is the foundation upon which the band’s sound is formed. To be able to hear those minimalist psychedelic grooves without being buried under thick layers of guitar and drums gives one a greater appreciation for the amazing rock music the band has since released. The title track, all swirling noise and funky beats and totally blown out fuzz, was good enough for Julian Cope to include on one of his Head Heritage samplers. The rest of the album follows suit. “Above All” is awash with static hiss and harsh noise. The eight-minute epic synth-driven “They’ve Got Blood Like You’ve Got Blood” was retitled …We’ve Got Blood and spun off as its own album, a limited-edition CDr released by Cope on his Fuck Off & Di label (that album is, essentially, the third and final version of this debut CDr). “Coming For You” is the most rocking number on the album, a kraut-space voyage that would sound perfectly at home on pretty much any Brain Metronome 1000 series album. The closing track, “Ulan,” is a windy ambient piece that sounds like an outtake culled from Klaus Schuzle’s Irrlicht or Cyborg sessions.
Although not nearly as intense or captivating as more recent White Hills releases, this is seen as the band’s first release, so it is undoubtedly worth a listen for anybody who has enjoyed Glitter Glamour Atrocity or Heads On Fire. I do my best to spread the love about White Hills, so when I say that I totally recommend you all listen to this I do so with complete sincerity. This is a hard-working, down-to-earth band who deserves nothing but great success. I’ll do my best to keep singing their praises. Now you just have to take my word for it and let the music convince you I’m right about how otherwordly talents of White Hills.
White Hills
No Game To Play
MegaUpload DL Link
Tracklist:
01. No Game To Play
02. Above All
03. They’ve Got Blood Like You’ve Got Blood
04. Coming For You
05. Ulan
