Looming in the Gloom
Encyclopedia
Looming in the Gloom is an EP
released by The Gothic Archies
. This album marks the first appearance of the all-Merritt
macabre synthpop synonymous The Gothic Archies
.
(run by They Might Be Giants
) in March 1996. The third track, "The Dead Only Quickly", was later transformed into a The 6ths
' track sung by Neil Hannon
only after his own band (The Divine Comedy
) covered it and released it as a b-side. The last track is the original mix of "City of the Damned".
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
released by The Gothic Archies
The Gothic Archies
The Gothic Archies are a self-described goth-bubblegum band created and largely performed by Stephin Merritt, more famously of The Magnetic Fields. In 1997, Merritt released The New Despair. The EP featured the song "Your Long White Fingers", which appeared frequently in the cult Nickelodeon series...
. This album marks the first appearance of the all-Merritt
Stephin Merritt
Stephin Merritt is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles , best known as the principal singer and songwriter in the band The Magnetic Fields...
macabre synthpop synonymous The Gothic Archies
The Gothic Archies
The Gothic Archies are a self-described goth-bubblegum band created and largely performed by Stephin Merritt, more famously of The Magnetic Fields. In 1997, Merritt released The New Despair. The EP featured the song "Your Long White Fingers", which appeared frequently in the cult Nickelodeon series...
.
Production
Looming in the Gloom was released on the Hello CD of the Month ClubHello CD of the Month Club
The Hello CD of the Month Club was a subscription-only record company that operated from 1993-1996 by John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants and Marjorie Galen...
(run by They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
) in March 1996. The third track, "The Dead Only Quickly", was later transformed into a The 6ths
The 6ths
The 6ths is a band created by Stephin Merritt, also the prime mover behind The Magnetic Fields, The Gothic Archies and Future Bible Heroes.One story has it that the band was conceived when Merritt, observing that there was no tribute album dedicated to him, decided to make one himself...
' track sung by Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
only after his own band (The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature...
) covered it and released it as a b-side. The last track is the original mix of "City of the Damned".
Track listing
- "The Abandoned Castle of My Soul" – 3:11
- "Your Long White Fingers" – 1:34
- "The Dead Only Quickly" – 1:10
- "In a Cave" – 1:41
- "City of the Damned" – 1:42