Gnod & White Hills ‘Drop Out III’ 2xLP

Opaque orange vinyl or black vinyl.

Manchester’s Gnod and New York’s White Hills stand as titans of psychedelic and space rock. Together they bend the very notions of what rock can do, seemingly suspending our sense of time. Their alchemical chemistry and a fateful session at the Dropout Studio in Camberwell gave rise to the legendary, ongoing series of records under the moniker ‘Drop Out’. The records became an influential and sprawling series of extended pieces that remain touchstones of contemporary psychedelia. Having been called “absolutely essential,” “best I have heard - ever” and “A masterpiece,” the ‘Drop Out’ series finally gets its definitive edition. 

‘Drop Out III’ is a wholly new iteration of Gnod and White Hills’ collaboration, the ‘director’s cut’, if you will. ‘Drop Out III’ is replete with sounds recorded in the ‘Drop Out’ ‘era’ that have never been heard before.

The album features a cornucopia of expanded versions of essential songs complete with new arrangements, mixes and instrumentation. Classics like ‘Run-A-Round’ and the eponymous ‘Drop Out’ maintain their motorik drive and fizzing melodies with a new shine.

The album also features a full set of pieces never before included on vinyl, including the beautifully serene ‘Air Streams’ in its original droning arc. 

All formats of the release come with a digital download which also includes a full album’s worth of bonus material, all crafted around the ‘Drop Out’ era. White Hills’ ‘Decorating Time’ showcases the depth of the band’s subtlety, rich with minute turns and a twist of psychedelic ambience. ‘Nothing NEU! Under the Sky’ captures the invigorating pulse and dynamics of Gnod’s live performances. 

Together, this expansive body of work epitomizes the sense of possibility each band exudes, and the potency of their expertly crafted brand of Transatlantic psychedelia. 

15 years after the series began, ‘Drop Out III’ is an essential album for lovers of contemporary psychedelic rock, a testament to the power of this collaboration.