Review: Velocity Girl's '¡Simpatico!' (Loser Edition)

Two years ago Sub-Pop released a long overdue reissue of Velocity Girl's first album, Copacetic. While simply getting that album back on vinyl would have been a big enough deal for fans, the package also included a bonus disc of B-sides and other such oddities, redesigned cover art, extensive notes from band member Archie Moore, and most significantly, a pretty radical remix. Moore had always been disappointed by the album's atmospheric yet muddy 1993 mix, and by brightening it up and drawing out the details, he helped UltraCopacetic to become that rarest of classic record birds: one that actually became better after a remix. 

Now Velocity Girl's second album is receiving a similar double-LP reissue, but without the remix. That's because ¡Simpatico! was always a shimmery, hi-fi album, one so resplendent in pleasing sounds and massive pop hooks that one could almost mistake it for a straight pop album without the "indie" qualifier. You'd have to look to Frente! to find another band filed in the alternative bin that made music as sunny as "I Can't Stop Smiling" or "Sorry Again". Must be something about the exclamation points.

But as was the case with Frente!, the sheer quality of Velocity Girl's material, playing, and singing ensured the music never lost its cool. And unlike Copacetic, which tended to bury Sarah Shannon's clarion voice even in its remixed form, ¡Simpatico! seems to shout, "Screw it! The lady's got a great voice! Whack up that fader!" There was always Archie Moore's disaffected monotone to provide a little counterpoint to keep things in indie rock territory. 

So while a remix was rightfully deemed unnecessary for this new "Loser" edition of ¡Simpatico!, it has otherwise mostly received the same treatment as UltraCopacetic. There's an extra LP for stray EP, single, and comp tracks. The vinyl is colored, the cover art has been redesigned, and the sound has been remastered. Additional memories from Moore are missed though.

The bonus tracks consist of one side of originals, including two unique songs and two alternative versions of  ¡Simpatico! songs, and a side of smart covers that underlines the band's indie (The Pastels), new wave (Depeche Mode and Echo and the Bunnymen), and classic pop (The Beach Boys) influences.

The remaster is livelier than the original CD, with full bass and good depth, especially on the short bonus LP, but Side A begins with mild groove distortion that intensifies over the course of the side. The other sides sound cleaner at the start, but inner groove distortion emerges for the last couple of tracks on each, with the exception of the light instrumental "Wake Up, I'm Leaving" that concludes the core album. I can't say I completely minded, though, because this album always could use a bit more gunk in the corners. If the remix of Copacetic made it sound more like ¡Simpatico!, the pressing of this vinyl edition of ¡Simpatico! makes it sound more like Copacetic.