HHBTM Records has announced the “25th Anniversary Expanded Edition” of The Albemarle Sound by The Ladybug Transistor. On November 8th, this beloved indie gem will be re-released on both CD and LP, featuring bonus tracks, including rare B-sides, outtakes, and demos.
The CD will include these extras physically, while the LP offers digital access to the bonus content. Merge Records will also handle the streaming and digital versions. For vinyl collectors, there’s a deluxe pre-order of the LP, which includes exclusive goodies—a handmade mobile, a button set, and a stunning 12″ x 12″ silk-screened print. As part of the celebration, The Ladybug Transistor will tour both coasts this December.
Initially released in 1999 on Merge Records, The Albemarle Sound is a timeless masterpiece that bridges the past and present.
The album, often described as the last great pop record of the 20th century, draws inspiration from the rich, orchestral arrangements of ‘60s pop while embracing the warm, nostalgic feel of home.
Speaking of home, The Albemarle Sound is deeply rooted in the essence of place. The record was recorded, mixed, and produced in a Victorian house in Flatbush, Brooklyn, affectionately known as Marlborough Farms.
This house wasn’t just a studio; it was the heart of the band—a home filled with instruments, recording gear, and the memories that shaped the record.
The band, formed in 1995 by singer and trumpeter Gary Olson, eventually expanded to include Jeff Baron (guitar), Jennifer Baron (bass), Sasha Bell (keyboards and flute), San Fadyl (drums), and Julia Rydholm (violin), many of whom lived together at Marlborough Farms.
“The instruments and recording equipment around the studio seemed to have stories that were woven into the fabric of the house or its prior inhabitants,” Jennifer Baron recalls, a sentiment reflected in the cozy, communal feel of The Albemarle Sound.
The album was recorded entirely analog on a 16-track machine, capturing the warmth and depth that make each listen a journey. The songs evoke specific moments and places—Sheepshead Bay, Prospect Park—while blending memory with the surreal. Tears turn into summer rain, city streets become winding canals, and the ordinary transforms into something extraordinary.
Musically, The Albemarle Sound is a lush soundscape, brought to life by Olson’s baritone voice and intricate arrangements that recall the work of Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, and even the sweeping cinematic scores of Luis Bacalov. Each of the album’s 12 tracks feels like its own world, meticulously crafted to transport listeners into the band’s intimate yet expansive universe.
After the album’s release, the band members remained active in other projects, including Gary Olson’s solo work, Jeff and Sasha’s band The Essex Green, and Jennifer’s project The Garment District.
Tragically, the group suffered a major loss with drummer San Fadyl’s passing in 2007, but they returned in 2011 with Clutching Stems, and The Albemarle Sound only grew in reputation over the years.
The album’s enduring influence was celebrated with a 20th-anniversary show in New York City and a subsequent tour, which reunited original members Gary, Jeff, Jennifer, Sasha, and Julia.
This momentum carried into 2023 with a tour that revisited their most celebrated era (1999-2003), joined by Derek Almstead (Giant Day) on drums, culminating in a special performance at The Andy Warhol Museum.
The CD version of the re-issue includes 12 bonus tracks, giving fans a rare glimpse into the recording process. The tracks include demos, alternate mixes, and instrumentals that further showcase the band’s intricate songcraft.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering the album for the first time, this expanded edition proves why The Albemarle Sound continues to captivate, a sonic landscape worth revisiting time and time again.
This fall, don’t miss The Ladybug Transistor as they hit the road to celebrate 25 years of The Albemarle Sound, joined by Slumberland artists Lightheaded on the East Coast and Tony Molina on the West Coast. Get ready for a nostalgic, heart-stirring tour that honors the legacy of one of indie pop’s finest creations.
Fall 2024 TOUR DATES
December 4, Medford, MA – Deep Cuts (with Lightheaded and Mark Robinson)
December 5, Keene, NH – Nova Arts (with Lightheaded)
December 6, Kingston, NY – Tubby’s (with Lightheaded and Kyle Forester)
December 7, Brooklyn, NY – Public Records (with Lightheaded
December 9, Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s (with Tony Molina)
December 10, Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios (with Tony Molina)
December 12, San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop (with Tony Molina)
December 13, Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room (with Tony Molina)
Check out The Albermarle Sound 25th Anniversary Edition by The Ladybug Transistor on Bandcamp here.
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