Shellac the hardcore rock band from Chicago is set to release record number 16, The End of Radio, which is comprised of two previously unreleased BBC Radio Peel Sessions. The band formed in 1992 and includes Steve Albini (guitar and vocals), Bob Weston (bass guitar and vocals) and Todd Trainer (drums and vocals). Both Weston and Albini are recording engineers who prefer a sparse, analog recording sound with little or no overdubbing, and are meticulous about microphone placement and choice of equipment.

The double album includes the 1994 and 2004 sessions at BBC Maida Vale Studio. Fans can pre-order the double album here. The 1994 session was recorded at BBC Maida Vale Studio 3 and includes four songs, “Spoke”, “Canana”, “Crow” and “Disgrace” which were recorded to 24-track and then mixed to stereo on the same day. The studio version of “Crow” was released in October of 1994 on the band’s debut album At Action Park, studio versions of “Canada”, “Disgrace”, and “Spoke” appeared later. The session originally aired on John Peel’s BBC Radio One show in July of 1994.

The 2004 Peel session is “Live From Maida Vale” recorded live to stereo in front of a small audience at BBC Maida Vale Studio 4. It includes songs, “Ghosts”, “The End of Radio”, “Canada”, “Paco”, “Steady As She Goes”, “Billiard Player Song”, “Dog and Pony Show” and “Il Porno Star”. Album versions of “The End of Radio”, “Steady As She Goes”, and “Paco” were released in 2007 on Excellent Italian Greyhound.

Shellac has a distinctive, minimalist sound with songs that contain repetitive rhythms and typically do not have traditional verse/chorus/verse structure. The arrangements are sparse, to the point where some describe them as “amelodic”.  Shellac’s signature sound is often associated with their enthusiasm for vintage Travis Bean guitars, a rare brand of aluminium-necked instruments, and the Interfax “Harmonic Percolator” distortion pedal.

Albini is also known to use copper plectrums and typically wraps his guitar strap around his waist rather than over his shoulder. The band prefers the intimacy of smaller clubs and live appearances are sporadic. Mid-set in many live performances Shellac take the time for one or more “question and answer” sessions, where members of the band respond in an off-the-cuff and, at times, jocular manner to questions shouted out by fans and hecklers alike.