First gaining notoriety with the albums ‰Û÷Children Of Desire‰۪ (2012), which Pitchfork hailed for its ‰ÛÏglistening and emotive, earbleeding noise pop,‰۝ followed by ‰Û÷Totale Nite‰۪ (2013), which NME likened to ‰ÛÏa cultural jump-start‰۝ in their 9/10 review, Merchandise continue their ascent with the highly-anticipated new album, ‰Û÷After The End‰۪. Drawing from too many places to be classified punk, they‰۪ve certainly been informed by its ethics, earning all they‰۪ve achieved. Still self- recording and producing their music, this time over a six month period in the house they share in Tampa, ‰Û÷After The End‰۪ is a real achievement in showing what bands can achieve themselves. The only outside influence this time came when they enlisted mixing help from Gareth Jones, the man famed for his work on Depeche Mode‰۪s Berlin Trilogy of ‰Û÷Construction Time Again‰۪, ‰Û÷Some Great Reward‰۪ and ‰Û÷Black Celebration‰۪ and, more recently, Interpol, These New Puritans and Grizzly Bear. As the album‰۪s title suggests, Merchandise are still evolving. With this record, they‰۪ve expanded ranks with Carson Cox (vocals / guitar), David Vassalotti (guitar) and Patrick Brady (bass) now being joined by Chris Horn (guitar / keys / sax) and Elsner Nino (drums). Speaking to the NME earlier this year, Carson said ‰Û?Û÷Totale Nite‰۪ was the end of the book. This is a whole new one. It‰۪s like we can start a new band with basically the same name. We‰۪ve already exploded our reality - now we‰۪re going to re-make ourselves as a pop band, but it‰۪ll still be a twisted reality.‰۝ He‰۪s kept to his word - the album is made up of ten tracks spread across a mean 45 minutes. Initial LP pressing will be on green vinyl. ‰ÛÏPrevious stalwarts of the underground, Merchandise are becoming aåÊvitally important, fully-exposed band.‰۝ - DIY ‰ÛÏOne of those rock bands who invite you to question every idea you might have about them... They‰۪re one of the more interesting new rock bands of the moment.‰۝ - The Guardian ‰ÛÏMerchandise sound like a band still exploring their huge potential.‰۝ - UncutåÊ
