4AD home

The Amps - 'Pacer' Vinyl Repress
The Amps : 'Pacer' Vinyl Repress
19th June 2018

Released in the immediate aftermath of the runaway success of The Breeders’ platinum-selling second album, Last Splash, and the Pixies calling it a day the first time round, The Amps are an important part of the Kim Deal canon.

First intended as a solo project, The Amps instead grew into a fully-fledged band with Jim MacPherson from The Breeders joining on drums and Dayton, OH musicians Luis Lerma and Nate Farley on bass and guitar respectively.  Releasing just one album, Pacer, in 1995, and after a whirlwind of touring with the likes of Foo Fighters, Guided By Voices and Sonic Youth, Kim returned them to the shelf, leaving behind one of her most intriguing chapters.

A glorious record whose charm has only grown since release, Pacer captures Kim energised by a new band and no pressure, recording with purpose in seven studios with a different engineer each time.  The resultant record is both raw and undeniable, with Kim’s songwriting arguably at its most cryptic and personal.  Don’t be fooled by its casual lo-fi veneer too; underneath lies one serious record that never dips or lacks purpose.

Speaking to The Quietus, Elijah Wood said “Pacer has everything.  It's kind of experimental.  There's an incredible mix of pop songs and weird, kind of abrasive almost punk rock songs.  I think it's one of the best things that Kim Deal's ever done.

With the first vinyl repress on 4AD released on 10th August 2018, Pacer is finally getting the reappraisal it richly deserves.

You can pre-order the LP via the 4AD Store here.  
You can listen to the album on streaming services here.