Irish alternative rock band Compulsion have announced the reissue of their acclaimed albums ‘Comforter’ and ‘The Future Is Medium’, out May 2ndon One Little Independent Records. Compulsion were known for their energetic performances, sharp lyrics, and a dynamic sound that bridged raw punk intensity with melodic sensibilities.
‘Comforter (Extended)’ is released as a double LP gatefold in white vinyl and ‘The Future Is Medium (Extended)’ as a single LP in orange, each alongside an A5 zine.
Of the release, Garret “Jacknife” Lee tells us; “I hadn’t listened to Compulsion for a long time. To be honest I hadn’t really thought about Compulsion either. We weren’t in touch. We hadn’t fallen out but after a meeting in Soho in 1997 we all walked in different directions and shut each other out. We’d just done a tour of Japan which should have been a thrill but our album ‘The Future Is Medium’ hadn’t connected and we had run out of energy. Britpop was having its moment in England and not only did we not like it, it did not like us. We were also out of step in the US… nu metal, post-grunge, industrial machismo were all the rage while we were looking to Kraftwerk for a good time. So that was it. Over. Then, in 2023 our bassist Sid started a group chat and it felt like 30 years had disappeared. I missed these people. With a little trepidation I put on the first EP and then the rest of the records. I was struck by its freshness and oddness. I’d forgotten these feelings. The absurdity. The rush. The urgency. A thirty year anniversary of ‘Comforter’ was coming, and Derek Birkett at OLI thought it would be a good idea to reissue the records and brought back Rick Lennox who had originally signed and guided us to coordinate everything. We decided to include as many of the songs as we could and so the albums swelled so we thought we would change the album artwork too. Working on these reissues has been such a beautiful experience for us. Compulsion went at it hard for those few years in the 90s. We didn’t make it through. It was chaos. Glorious. Brutal. And alive. I’m very grateful to Josephmary, Sid, Jan, Derek, and Rick for the trip and the revisit.”
Formed in 1990 and hailing from Dublin, Compulsion consisted of Josephmary (vocals), Garret Lee (guitar), Sid Rainey (bass), and Jan Alkema (drums). Their music blended grunge’s gritty textures with the rebellious spirit of punk, delivering a sound that was as infectious as it was confrontational. Their lyrics explored themes of suburban ennui in an aggressive yet detached idiosyncrasy, critiquing the warped cruelty often underlying the sober face of middle-class society. With influences ranging from The Pixies to Buzzcocks, their music encapsulated the urgency and angst of the era earning them plaudits from across the tastemaker music press.
The band released a series of well-received EPs before dropping their acclaimed debut album, ‘Comforter’, in 1994, featuring standout tracks like ‘Mall Monarchy’ and ‘Basketcase’. Their follow-up album, ‘The Future Is Medium’, released in 1996, showcased a more polished yet equally potent sound.
Though Compulsion disbanded in 1997 their legacy is one of uncompromising energy and a knack for capturing the chaotic pulse of their time. With a cult following and a catalogue that still feels fresh, Compulsion remains a hidden gem of the 90s alternative explosion.
After Compulsion, Lee formed Jacknife Lee, and became a renowned producer, working with the likes of U2, R.E.M., The Killers, Bloc Party, Taylor Swift, Two Door Cinema Club, and many more. Lee supported Bono’s “The Stories of Surrender” theatre tour in 2022 and 2023 as musical director, keyboardist, and percussionist. Alkema joined China Drum and later Driven to Collision. Rainey created and produced the animated children’s TV series Underground Ernie for the BBC and is now a photographer.
Art credit: Garret Lee & Charles Peterson
Photo credit: Charles Peterson
Tracklist
‘Comforter (Extended)’
- Rapejacket
- Basketcase
- Mall Monarchy
- Ariadne
- Late Again
- Air-Raid For The Neighbours
- Yancy Dangerfield’s Delusions
- Lovers
- I Am John’s Brain
- Bad Cooking
- Dick, Dale, Rick and Ricky
- Domestique
- On My Fool Life
- Jean Could Be Wrong
- Find Time
- Easterman
- Ninefourth
- Purring Not Laughing
- Accident Ahead
- Yabba Yabba Yes Yes Yes
- Crying
- How Do I Breathe?
- Eating
- Here Comes Ambrose Beasley
- Security
- Why Do We Care?
- Plan
- Pink and Forty Nine
- Little Miss Whirlwind
- Little Marks
- F Byron Farnsworth
‘The Future is Medium (Extended)’
- All We Heard Was A Dull Thud
- Question Time For The Proles
- Juvenile Scene Detective
- It’s Great
- They’re Breeding The Grey Things Again
- Fast Songs
- Western Culture Collector
- Happy Monsters
- Belly Laugh
- Is This Efficient Living?
- Down The Edifice
- Happy Ending
- Burst
- Uniformity Is Go!
- Lost On Abbey Road
- Spotlight Into Space
- Me
Follow Compulsion
A Plea From Louder Than War
Louder Than War is run by a small but dedicated independent team, and we rely on the small amount of money we generate to keep the site running smoothly. Any money we do get is not lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to think and write, or hungry shareholders. We know times are tough, and we want to continue bringing you news on the most interesting releases, the latest gigs and anything else that tickles our fancy. We are not driven by profit, just pure enthusiasm for a scene that each and every one of us is passionate about.
To us, music and culture are eveything, without them, our very souls shrivel and die. We do not charge artists for the exposure we give them and to many, what we do is absolutely vital. Subscribing to one of our paid tiers takes just a minute, and each sign-up makes a huge impact, helping to keep the flame of independent music burning! Please click the button below to help.
John Robb – Editor in Chief
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
