Leaves Turn: An exploration of post-hardcore act Unwound in 10 records

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Unwound

Unwound
Unwound
(Not on label, 1991)

Listen / Buy

This demo is a self-release on cassette and was almost impossible to source pre-Numero’s Kid is Gone box set. At this stage they were still finding their feet and you can hear the raw talent and energy despite inevitable derivativeness. They wear influences proudly on their sleeve: touches of revolution summer bands like Rites of Spring in ‘Bionic’ and ‘Whilst You’re Ahead’, Sonic Youth in ‘LD-50’ but there’s also a hint of the dark energy to come with ‘Crab Nebula’. ‘Caterpillar’, their first single, sounds a young Nirvana while ‘Love and Fear’ has early signs of ambition to push things forward.


Unwound LP
Unwound
Unwound
(Punk In My Vitamins, 1995)

Listen / Buy

The first proper album they wrote,  this self-titled LP is a less immediate, much darker listen compared to the cassette predecessor. Despite being recorded in 1992 the band shelved it due to original drummer Brandt Sandeno’s sudden exit. It’s an odd record because it felt dated even by the time of its release (by that point they had put out 3 far superior records) but it is a nice collection of the material they recorded before Sara Lund’s arrival at the tail of 1992. Very much a step into the direction they would late come to make their own but nonetheless it feels rather hit or miss. Still, album closer ‘Kandy Korn Rituals’ would go on to become an early fan-favourite.


Unwound and Unwound are compiled in Kid Is Gone (Numero, 2013). Check it out here.

Kid Is Gone