Fully re-mastered to tape, with beautiful remixes & missing songs restored—this is a 20th birthday celebration of the release that started it all.
Now available on all platforms via Hook & Prayer Records (distributed worldwide by Fontana North).
There’s still a lot of love & hope in this record from us to you. Hope it finds you all over again.
Enjoy this long-lost song from A New Devotion—available everywhere for the first time, as of today (Oct. 25)!
The animated teaser features artwork from the comic book companion, coming soon!
Released in July 2003, The High Dials’ debut album A New Devotion sounded like it might burst out of its jewel case. Even at a wopping 76-minutes, the CD could barely contain four hyperactive lads romping across music history like kids in a candy store.
Detractors hated its retro, upbeat vibe. Some even accused the band of wearing stylistic straightjackets. But those who “got it” rejoiced—a merry band of influential and vocal supporters that included Little Steven van Zandt, Al Kooper, Andrew Loog Oldham and Anton Newcombe. Pre-social media, word spread the old-fashioned (i.e. slower) way—sympathetic message boards, local gigs and radio shows. The band soon found themselves circling round and round the continent in their purple van, helping build the scene that would later blossom into psychedelia’s third wave.
A comic book was meant to accompany the release, telling the story of a boy named Silas and his attempts to escape a domed city. (Time and tiny budgets spoiled that dream.) Other corners were cut, too—key songs scrapped and mixes badly rushed.
Now, 20 years later, Hook & Prayer Records is proud to re-release A New Devotion as it was meant to be experienced. Fully re-mastered to tape, with remixes by songwriter / producer Trevor Anderson, never-before-heard tracks unveiled, and a comic book finally on the way, this memorable debut is set to explode out of its casing all over again!
So dial up the jangle, declare your devotion, and enjoy what Tinnitus recently called “a timeless (and near flawless) bit of magic.”
A New Devotion —20th Anniversary Edition is out everywhere Nov. 3, 2003. You can PRE-SAVE IT HERE and spread the love!
Hard to believe it’s already been two years since The High Dials returned with the Foreverish EP.
To celebrate the occasion, the band released a video for “Illuminati Bop” this week. The jagged jump cuts, propaganda fragments and overall feel of disorientation kind of sums up the mood of 2020. But it should still make you dance.
There are a very limited number of autographed cassette copies of this release still available. Your support on Bandcamp Fridays has been a huge boost to the boys this year. Thank you super fans, you know who you are!
Ever wondered what cats know that you don’t know?
“Guerilla Guru” travels the multiverse from a cat perspective, illuminating the mysteries of long-forgotten feline civilization. It’s another found footage collage from video collaborator Ghost Mago. Watch if you dare, then share!
Primitive Feelings Parts I & II are now available together, as a beautiful 180-gram coloured vinyl LP. Get it on Bandcamp!
Primitive Feelings Part II went live on all platforms today, concluding the full LP, now available on 180-gram, Magenta-coloured vinyl (Hook & Prayer Records / Cobraside)
Fans in Montreal can get their copy at the band’s free launch party – a 5 à 7 performance at Bar L’Escogriffe (Oct. 3rd).
