red temple spirits: s/t

Independent Project Records is thrilled to announce the long-awaited CD reissue of the two phenomenal albums released by enigmatic Los Angeles band Red Temple Spirits: Dancing to Restore an Eclipsed Moon and If Tomorrow I Were Leaving for Lhasa, I Wouldn’t Stay a Minute More... Originally released in 1988 and 1989, these records sound like nothing else from the period, deftly blending gothic post-punk with pagan tribal psychedelia. Red Temple Spirits’ debut is a haunting masterpiece laden with exotic musicianship and a unique combination of Native American and Eastern mysticism. While shimmering guitar textures weave patterns over heavy hypnotic rhythms, the enchanting lyrical imagery of vocalist William Faircloth brings a trippy, shamanistic quality. On its ten powerful originals, plus what may be the finest cover version extant of Pink Floyd’s “Nile Song,” Dancing to Restore an Eclipsed Moon showcases an austerity, grace and pureness to form that remains fresh over two decades after it was originally recorded. A fully developed excursion into other realms, the band’s second album is marked by rumbling basslines and slithery guitar washes of elegant brilliance. Once again drawing inspiration from Tibetan and Native American cultures, vocalist Faircloth leads the listener through a tangle of mystical themes while guitarist?Dallas Taylor, bassist Dino?Paredes and drummer Thomas Pierik blend heavy tribal rhythms and etherial guitar. In the UK, Sounds magazine described “City of Millions” as “a song many bands have died trying to execute.” In addition to the nine originals, If Tomorrow... also features cover versions of Pink Floyd’s “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” and 13th Floor Elevators’ “Rollercoaster.” Both albums have been completely re-mastered and are supplemented with three bonus tracks (both sides of the New Land single, originally released on?Independent Project in 1989, along with a previously unreleased later version of the song “New Land”) and a third disc reproducing the band’s first demo tape. Packaged in a deluxe over-sized four-color hand-letterpress discfolio designed by Bruce Licher, with full-color lyric inserts and gilded letterpress-printed glassine inner sleeves, this essential reissue is limited to a numbered edition of 1000 copies.