Orchids (The) - Unholy Soul *Pre-Order

Release Date Friday 25th September 2026
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.

The early summer bloom of 1992 felt like it had been pollinated by a lot of sunshine-loving records
from the year before, optimistic headrushes that embraced hedonistic bliss or at least a sweeter
ride. There was still an element of bedroom wistfulness to singles like Higher Than The Sun,
Nothing Can Stop Us and even Paris Angels’ Perfume but there was no denying the appeal that
techno, rave and Bleep held, especially when it was microdosed. Bands were more willing to
experiment with technology and producers, if not necessarily going for all whistles-blazing club
bangers.
The Orchids, hailing from the suburbs of Glasgow were unlikely to ever emerge from their hood as
contenders for a deal on Soma Records (which had begun in 1991 in that city) but they evidently
wanted to stretch their boundaries beyond their introverted debut. Unholy Soul is somewhat
breezier than Lyceum. It’s still laced with a Scottish melancholy but there’s more breathing space
within the production. They’d hinted as much on their 12” ‘Penetration’ EP from 1991 and lovelorn
songs such as Waiting For The Storm and Peaches are now spiked by absent-minded cherubs
with an ear for the 3.a.m comedown.

As lead singer James Hackett says today: “Unholy Soul was the first time we had spent more than
a couple of days in the studio, doing so after work. It was a thrilling period of creativity and we had
most of the songs written but not enough. We didn’t worry about that too much though because
with Ian Carmichael there was a new opportunity for studio generation. Also this was the first time
we had heard Pauline (Hynds) singing with One Dove so we asked her to sing on some of the
songs. We were obviously influenced by a lot of the music of the time but you can still hear it’s The
Orchids at heart”.
The next year of course One Dove (with Carmichael programming) released their debut album -
produced by Andrew Weatherall - on the Boy’s Own label. It felt like there was a lot of ideas being
spun back and forth between artists and producers in the early 90s. If some of the records also
sound very much of that time that’s no bad thing either. There was a lot of loved-up nostalgia for
the 60s then so it’s no surprise that many of the records have a youthful exuberance coupled to a
technological innocence, that’s the charm.

Tracklist:
A
1) Me And The Black And White Dream 2) Women Priests And Addicts 3) Bringing You The Love 4)
Frank De Salvo 5) Long Drawn Sunday Night 6) Peaches 
B
1) Dirty Clothing 2) Definition Of A Bastard 3) Moon Lullaby 4) Coloured Stone 5) The Sadness Of Sex
(pt1) / Waiting For The Storm 6) You Know I'm Fine 
C
1) Bemused, Confused And Bedraggled 2) Pelican Blonde 3) Tropical Fishbowl 4) How Does That Feel
D
1) Sigh 2) Something For The Longing 3) Farewell, Dear Bonnie 4) On A Sunday

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