Per the title above this is a re-upload, but then again that may not be saying much since virtually
every download link shared on these pages from our 2007 inception to January of this year was stifled in one fell swoop when my file-hoster of six years, Rapidshare, pulled the plug on the "library" Obscura. I've made significant gains in
restoring the majority of said links, but I thought I'd re-do this one entirely, given it's significance to me and so many of you who originally downloaded it since it made it's
digital debut in November of 2007. In this iteration, I've re-ripped the record from scratch, editing out the more extraneous surface annoyances, and I've doubled the bit rate. If that weren't enough, I've expanded the sleeve art considerably.
The Verge were a phenomenal and relatively short-lived Albany, NY post-punk trio, who recorded a small body of work during their early-80s lifespan, with an even
more minute segment of those recordings having been made available for public consumption. From what I've been informed by band personnel (as well as the thoughtful testimonies of some ardent Verge aficionados left in the comments portion of my original entry) the
Habitual ep and a contribution to the Albany-centric, 1982 compilation record
Hudson Rock, comprise the group's scarce surviving fossil record.
The Verge's regrettably limited oeuvre was nonetheless deliriously visceral, bearing flashing signposts to such period luminaries as Joy Division, Killing Joke, Mission of Burma, and even a dab of pre-ego U2. Not plagiarism so much as compulsive inspiration, The Verge's revisionism married a sweeter guitar tone to the demi-nihilistic angst of the aforementioned. One arguable exception to this winning formula is "Picturesque," whose dive-bomb salvos of serrated power chords elevates the trio's game to a doubly more fearsome level. That comp cut I mentioned, "1-2-3-4-5-6" is also situated on a different plateau, and functions much better as a one-off track than it would have served on the ep. As a bonus, I'm sharing the heretofore unreleased jewel, "Day and Age," which was furnished to me by a Verge alum himself. How's that for gratitude?
If you haven't had the opportunity to immerse yourself in these recordings before, it's never too late. As for the rest of you, please treat yourself to an upgrade. If you fancy what you hear, you'd do well to enlighten yourself by reading the copious comments section from my
original write-up.
Habitual ep
1. Tradition
2. Understand
3. Picturesque
4. Hypocrisy
plus
1-2-3-4-5-6 (from Hudson Rock compilation)
Day and Age (unreleased!)
http://www20.zippyshare.com/v/61254903/file.html