Rocktrospectiva: The Well-Received "Gala" Turns 35

Released on 13 November 1990 "Gala" was the debut  compilation album by the English alternative rock band Lush, it was released by 4AD as an introduction to the US and Japanese markets, comprising the band's earliest releases in reverse chronological order, plus two additional tracks. The album spawned the single "De-Luxe" which was released as a promotional single in the US and received considerable radio airplay placing in the Billboeard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album received a limited-edition release in the UK. In support of the album, Lush toured in both the US and Japan. 

Gala was compiled by Lush's record label, 4AD, as an introduction to the United States and Japanese markets. For that reason, the album features the band's debut mini album Scar (1989) and Mad Love and Sweetness and Light extended plays (1990) in reverse chronological order. A cover version of ABBA's 1975 song "Hey Hey Helen"—which had been recorded for an abandoned anti-poll tax compilation—was included, as well as a rerecording of Scar song "Scarlet" that had been previously released on the Melody Maker compilation Gigantic! 2 in March 1990.

The album was released on 13 November 1990 on 4AD/Reprise in the US and on 21 November on 4AD/Nippon Columbia in Japan. Both releases were only made available on CD. Upon the album's limited release in the United Kingdom on 3 December, it was made available on CD, LP and cassette. In the US, "De-Luxe" was released as a promotional-only radio single to promote Gala's release; it featured the album version of the track, as well as two separate single edits as its B-side. The song peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Lush lyrics on this album were spiky, snarky, and not apt to suffer fools gladly, as Gala songs like "Bitter" and "Leaves Me Cold" underscore on matters personal and passionate. Berenyi and Anderson sung these with sweet individual and harmony performances, adding in odd time signatures and eccentric flourishes

The album was well received by critics, considered a collection of the bands first two glorious years and a promising start for the band, especially cause Miki and Emma loop hazy vocals through hard-edged fractured melodies, evoking an unstructured sense of bliss even for the most jaded listener, in the years to come, the album would be listed as one of the best 50 shoegaze albums of all time. 

 

Gala Track List:  

 

1. Sweetness And Light (from Sweetness and Light 1990)

2. Sunbathing (from Sweetness and Light 1990)

3. Breeze (from Sweetness and Light 1990)

4. De-Luxe (from Mad Love 1990)

5. Leaves Me Cold (from Mad Love 1990)

6. Downer (from Mad Love 1990)

7. Thoughtforms (second version from Mad Love 1990)

8. Baby Talk (from Scar 1989)

9. Thoughtforms (original version from Scar 1989) 

10. Scarlet (original version from Scar 1989)

11. Bitter (from Scar 1989)

12. Second Sight (from Scar 1989)

13.  Ehteriel (from Scar 1989)

14. Hey Hey Helen (ABBA cover 1990)

15. Scarlet (longer version 1990)