Sometimes, life gives you a gift. Something arrives in your life unforeseen but then suddenly you can’t imagine living without it.
Such a gift was the debut album from Swansea-based psych-rockers, White Noise Sound. The album landed in my hands through circumstances I can’t fully recall or explain, but when I played it, life was instantly better. It is that good a record.
The only other time I can remember a debut album arriving in public so unannounced and unexpected, and yet so fully formed, was when Joy Division released Unknown Pleasures.
This self-titled debut, produced by none other than Sonic Boom (Pete Kember) has the same air of perfection, of discovering a previously unknown gem that, for the moment at least, belongs just to you. Other people soon joined in this worship, with The Guardian declaring it to be the second best album of 2010.
Known as WNS1, the album is a slice of pure psych perfection. Fans of the likes of Spacemen 3, Loop and Spiritualized should drop whatever it is they are doing and head out and buy a copy of this album as fast as their little legs will carry them. They will not be disappointed.
From the all out attack of opening track Sunset to the meandering yet mesmeric There Is No Tomorrow, WNS1 is a journey of gnarled valleys and misty mountains, of fierce attack and ambient surrender. Every track is a lysergic expedition of its own, the quality, the ambition and the excellence never falter for even a second. It is an album I have leant out to many friends, who have since become converts to the cause that is White Noise Sound.
Second album, Like A Pyramid Of Fire, sees the band progress and expand their sound while still proving themselves masters of psyche. Produced by Phil Kieran, White Noise Sound experiment more with electronics and texture, creating a worthy successor and another intriguing and exhilarating record.
And then…nothing. White Noise Sound seemed to suddenly cease all communication, as if this experiment had reached its natural end, leaving us with little but the remarkable evidence of their existence on these two albums.
But now, they are back. Of sorts. A reissue campaign is underway that will see a remastered version of their debut album released, followed soon by a remix album and with a live album to look forward to in 2027.
Whether this leads on to any new material or not, we have the chance to again shine a light on one of the best debut albums ever released. And for now, that will do.
Ahead of the album’s release, we subjected band member Griff to one of our 13 Questions grillings.
1. Where are you and what are you doing?
WNS: “I’m in Swansea, Wales and currently sat in the house with a coffee waiting to take my Greyhound for a walk.”
2. When did you last make yourself do something you didn’t want to
WNS: “At the beginning of the year when I decided to go into the gym.”
3. When did you last get into an argument?
WNS: “I can’t remember what it was about but it was around four years ago.”
4. What is your earliest memory?
WNS: “Listening to Band Aid (Do they know it’s Christmas) on a wind-up radio in candle light due to a power cut. This must’ve been 1985-86. I remember a big fire on the hill by my back garden too, probably around the same time, but unrelated to the candles.”
5. What is the last album you listened to?
WNS: “Dillard & Clark’s The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark, last weekend.”
6. When did you last consider quitting social media?
WNS: “Early in 2024 I quit Twitter (X) and didn’t use Facebook. I mainly posted pictures of my Greyhound or records I was listening to on Instagram.
“Recently went back onto Facebook in order to promote WNS more.”
White Sound Noise - WSN17. What’s the best night out you’ve ever had?
WNS: “There’s been too many to pick any one out. Quite a few were when we toured Europe and going to gigs with my wife. Peter Hook, Brian Wilson and PJ Harvey stand out off the top of my head.”
8. Vinyl, CD, MP3 or Streaming?
WNS: “Vinyl in the house and streaming everywhere else.”
9. What is your favourite view?
WNS: “At the top of Kilvey Hill in Swansea, overlooking the docks, Swansea Bay and Mumbles – I walk up there every week.”
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10. When did you last shout at the TV?
WNS: “It would’ve been the last game of the football season watching Swansea City and every Swansea game before that.”
11. What was the first gig you went to?
WNS: “That was Blur in Cardiff, December 1995 for the Great Escape tour. There was a lot of money around for bands in those days, I remember the stage set being pretty spectacular, but I was mainly watching Graham Coxon.”
12. Can you tell us a secret?
WNS: “I could, but it wouldn’t be a secret then.”
13. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Is there anything else you’d like to say?
WNS: “Thanks for the questions. Keep an eye on the WNS socials for more news. We can’t wait to share it.
WNS1 re-issued on July 18 via Rocket Girl Records. Pre-order from Bandcamp.