Description
This is a pre-order. It will ship on or around 11/6/26
Formed from the ashes of Rema-Rema and Mass in the early '80s, The Wolfgang Press were originally a trio of bassist and vocalist Michael Allen, keyboardist Mark Cox and guitarist Andrew Gray. They were one of 4AD's longest-running acts, and shifted from pitch-black, industrial-tinged post-punk in their early years to funky, hip-hop-inspired avant-dance as they stepped into the '90s. A 2nd Shape is the first all-new gear from the duo in almost 30 years, with Gray's brother Stephen replacing Cox on keys. It's a fitting move for Downwards too; not only do The Wolfgang Press neatly straddle the label's musical poles, but the band's '88 high point Bird Wood Cage is an enduring favorite of Karl O'Connor. A 2nd Shape reflects The Wolfgang Press's output up to and including that touchstone - the soulful, sampledelic mood of Queer (and it's popular single "A Girl Like You") is nowhere to be found. Allen's signature dubbed-out basslines are front and center on "The Garden of Eden," booming over gnarled synths and a blitzed, slo-mo drum machine -- the bleakness of "The Burden of Mules" is latent, but sliced into bits by discordant feedback and dissociated FX. The band have always been hyper aware of contemporary musical developments, and it sounds as if they're offering a corrective here in a landscape pocked by post-punk pretenders. The music's not a remnant of the past, but a way for The Wolfgang Press to acknowledge their tenure while peering into tomorrow. If the trio's early run was marked by inky depression, their new material sounds just as umbral, but far more self-assured. They might have lost their appetite for funk, but The Wolfgang Press's claws have never sounded so razor sharp -- A 2nd Shape is the rarest of comeback albums, one that captures the OG magic without a shred of pastiche or a trace of repetition.
Cancellations:
Because many payment processors no longer return transaction fees to sellers on cancelled orders, any orders or pre-orders that are canceled by the customer before shipment will be assessed a 5% cancellation fee.
Q: How do limited edition and exclusive releases work?
Limited and exclusive items are fulfilled in the order received and may be subject to availability. If we’re unable to fulfill your order, you’ll receive a full refund.
Q: When will my pre-order ship?
Pre-orders ship on or around the official release date. If your order includes both pre-order and in-stock items, everything will ship together once all items are available. All orders are charged at the time of purchase.
