Retour, by Nothing But Happiness

Retour

by Nothing But Happiness

supported by

Michael Willis If you’ll listen to this record, you’ll like it. Maybe even a lot. I do

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Download includes 20 page PDF Booklet

Purchasable with gift card

£7 GBP or more
Compact Disc in 6 Panel Card Sleeve + 12 Page Booklet
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Comes in 6 Panel Card Sleeve with 12 page Full colour booklet with lyrics and notes.

Includes unlimited streaming of Retour via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Sold Out

1.	Things gone by 03:06	buy track
2.	Glimmer 02:33	buy track
3.	Let them in 03:33	buy track
4.	Kate 03:33	buy track
5.	Down with the sun 05:08	buy track
6.	Catch it Julie (and fly) 02:58	buy track
7.	Days creep by 05:43	buy track
8.	Sweet 04:52	buy track
9.	Amazed 05:15	buy track
10.	Hold on tight 04:17	buy track

about

"A mainstream rock record from 1991 that was never released", and by today's standards sounds positively avant-garde. Read on

In 1984 I released a compilation LP on the original Glass Records label, called ‘Shadow & Substance (The Wonderful World Of Glass Vol. 2)’, intended to show the label as part of, or at least allied with, the UK/US International Pop Underworld of the day. Alongside tracks by Half Japanese, Cheri Knight & Bruce Pavitt (of Sub Pop, which at that time was a cassette fanzine type thing), sat ‘Nothing But Happiness’ & ‘King Of Culture’, two connected ‘groups’ that I heard, and indeed met in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, through Pam Weiner of Green Records, from Tampa Bay FLA. I used to write to labels or bands I had seen reviewed in Option Magazine back in those days, exchanging discs or tapes with them, which is how I connected with Bruce, Calvin Johnson, Jad Fair and Pam. Cut to: 30+ years later, Glass Records is ressurrected as Glass Redux, to give me something to do in my old age, and I spot David Bowman on Facebook. Next thing you know he’s telling me about the unfinished 2nd NBH LP from 1991, goes off to Seattle to finish it, sends it to me, I love it, and here we are, closing the circle and maybe drawing a new one up.

David Barker - Glass Records Redux

credits

released June 23, 2017

What is ‘Retour’? It is a mainstream rock record from 1991 that was never released. In other words: an anachronism and a paradox. The 40-minute 2-sided rock LP is long gone. I don’t live in the past and could care less about what that means for pop music. But ‘Retour’ is a work conceived for that defunct format: it is made to be listened to from beginning to end, it has that ‘two-act’ format that served pop music so well for years: two sides with different feels that only make sense heard together, complete with side-openers and side-closers. Great art thrives on limitations – the novel and the 90 minute feature film are parallels.

In any case, ‘Retour’ has turned out exactly as I wanted. I think it’s a great album. More often than not, when asked why somebody made a record or started a band, they will reply ‘I did it to make the album I want to listen to but could never find.’ So that’s why I did it. I hadn’t heard these songs for twenty years or so, they might as well be the work of a stranger. So I can say, without being an obnoxious egoist – there are enough of those in this field already – that this record is a lost masterpiece from a great era of recorded music.

David Bowman NBH

Audio Restoration and Mastering by Mell Dettmer, Studio Soli, Seattle 2016

license

about

Glass Redux London, UK

Glass Records Resurrected for all you F***ed Up Rock'n'Rollers with one foot in the grave.

contact / help

Contact Glass Redux

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Retour, you may also like:

Archeology
by The Stick Figures

supported by 5 fans who also own “Retour”

holy hell. what an amazing discovery stereojunk
go to album
The Strait-Jackets
by The Strait-Jackets

supported by 4 fans who also own “Retour”

A look at real period work from Tampa late 70's punk pioneers. One of my fave bands ever to share a night/stage with. So glad these tapes finally saw the light of day - they needed to be heard. Congrats Lester, Allen, Darren & Robert. rdansby
go to album
Summer Moon
by There Will Be Fireworks

Yearning and anthemic post-rock from Glasgow, where marvelously tense verses explode into radiant choruses. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 11, 2023
go to album
Wives Tales & Hymns of the Earth
by Porchlight

Porchlight dish out smart and edgy post-punk, the kind where wry lyrics are spoken-sung over jittery guitars. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 11, 2023
go to album
re:lapse.ep
by re:lapse

The debut EP from Tokyo group re:lapse delivers four gorgeous shoegaze songs, with billowing clouds of guitar cradling far-off vocals. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 27, 2021
go to album
Autopilot
by Paragon Cause

Ottawa duo Paragon Cause craft songs that occupy the space between goth and dream pop, with sublime melodies drifting in guitar haze. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 15, 2021
go to album
Muck
by Dikembe

The Gainesville emo band work through grief and mental illness with honest, empathetic hooks and dynamic guitars. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 19, 2020
go to album