Beat Happening - Crashing Through 2x7"

This new reissue from Optic Nerve Recordings duplicates the original 53rd & 3rd Records 12" EP of Crashing Through from 1987 as a double 7" 45rpm in gate fold sleeve. Cover art by Heather Lewis. ‘The secret to Beat Happening’s completedomination of rock lies not in the music’ssimplicity, nor what some fuckheads see asfeigned innocence or eccentricity: Calvin,Heather and Bret take on situations and ideas,not ‘cause they think it’s funny or strangeto feel the way they do - - - Beat Happeningtruly live in the world they sing about...it’snot a sense of wonder they convey, it’s thetruest sense of abandon anyone’s created inway too long.’ - - - Gerard Cosloy, Conflict ‘The only band in the history of the planetto be equally influenced by The Raincoats andMinor Threat. Beat Hap manufactures auniversally acceptable sound that is as likableas a cool rain. Jamboree is their heaviestouting yet (actual “power chords” can be heard)but remains completely at odds with the more“pushable” (out a window, please) bands on thenew breed RT roster. A perfect record ,from a perfect band.’- - - Jimmy Johnson, Forced Exposure ‘With shy, unpretentious lyrics, minimalistrattlings and vocals akin to Lux Interioreating Scott Walker, the members of BeatHappening were the modern primitives of indieAmerica from 1985 to 1992. To DIY acolytes,the trio’s investigations were perhaps assignificant and influential as those of TheVelvet Underground two decades earlier.Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis and BretLunsford formed Beat Happening in the early'80s in Olympia, Wash., long beforeTwin Peaks and Nirvana made the PacificNorthwest cool. “I don’t think there waseven a democratic statement or any discussionabout it,” says Johnson about the band’s mostnoted virtue: a sense of fair play demonstrated bya revolving door of compositional, instrumentaland vocal responsibilities. “Most of the earlystuff was improvisational, probably because noneof us were particularly accomplished on anyinstrument.” At a time when few people had reallylearned what the revolution of punk meant letalone put it into practice, Beat Happeningwas pragmatic and political, without rulesor boundaries as to leader, guitarist, etc.’- - - A.D. Amorosi, Magnet