Watching Us with Archaic Smile

[Machine Translation] The best of peatmos, formed around the founder of Clover Records, Saito Umasato, is now released after 25 years! Inspired by Lois' first album "Butterfly Kiss" produced by Stuart Moxham of the Young Marble Giants, Saito formed the band with Kactus members Suginokoutaro and Julia Mitsuyama as supporting members. Later, Kurusumanami joined as vocalist and Chikako Nakata joined as percussionist, and this album was recorded between 1996 and 1998, when the band's musicality was firmly established. This album contains a collection of songs from "Earl Gray Tea e.p." released on US Sonorama Records, which released the masterpiece "Pop Jingu Vol.1" in 1997, and "mess e.p.", a cassette tape released on Clover Records, as well as a compilation album and unreleased songs. The album includes songs contributed to compilation albums and previously unreleased songs. It also includes a rare live performance at Shimokitazawa Attic on January 26, 1997. The aforementioned "Pop Jingu Vol. 1" also features peatmos, Lucy Van Pelt (now Advantage Lucy), Kactus, Smiley, Red Go-Cart, and 800 cherries. This compilation must have introduced peatmos to many fans of the past.

Clover Recordsの創設者のサイトウマサトを中心に結成されたpeatmosのベスト盤が25年の時を経てリリース! Young Marble GiantsのStuart MoxhamがプロデュースしたLoisの1stアルバム"Butterfly Kiss"に触発されたサイトウがKactusのメンバーであるスギノコウタロウとミツヤマジュリアをサポートメンバーとして結成。その後クルスマナミがVocal、ナカタチカコがPercussionとして参加し音楽性が固まった1996～1998年の音源が本作である。本作には1997年に名盤"Pop Jingu Vol.1"をリリースするUS Sonorama Recordsからの"Earl Gray Tea e.p."とClover Recordsからリリースされたカセットテープ"mess e.p."を中心に、コンピレーションアルバムに提供した曲と未発表曲を収録。さらに、1997年1月26日に下北沢屋根裏での貴重なライブ音源も収録している。前述"Pop Jingu Vol.1"はpeatmosの他、Lucy Van Pelt (現Advantage Lucy)、Kactus、Smiley、Red Go-Cartと800 cherriesも参加。このコンピレーションでpeatmosの存在を知った往年のファンも多いはず。