Country : Canada Label : 604 Genres and styles : Alternative / Post-Punk / Shoegaze Year : 2024

MOVIELAND – Then & Now

· by Stephan Boissonneault

I wasn’t personally around for Vancouver’s 1990s shoegaze scene and had no idea who Movieland was until the album was sent to me, but after spinning the first three tracks, I immediately felt the sonic appeal. Grunge was obviously booming back in the Vancouver ’90s scene, with Seattle right next door, but a band like Movieland was hitting the same decibels in a more washed-out, jangly way. Think The Stone Roses with a hint of Slowdive and The Verve. I even hear a bit of The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s debut, Methodrone, though Movieland predates that release.

There’s quite a bit of unknown Canadian arts history surrounding Movieland. Founder/ guitarist-vocalist, Alan D. Boyd, briefly moved to Montreal to play bass in garage rock legends the Gruesomes before settling in Vancouver in 1991. He then met up with drummer Justin Leigh and bassist John Ounpuu (who eventually left Movieland to form the art pop rock band Pluto). Before that, Movieland recorded one four-song cassette called Then & Now at the now-defunct Downtown Studios in Vancouver. Soon after, Boyd moved into a little, but big derelict artist commune dubbed The Mansion. It was all sex, psychedelic drugs, and rock n’ roll while Movieland hosted heavy and loud rehearsal parties. If it wasn’t for The Mansion’s impressive soundproofing no one knew unless you were in the know. The expertly layered song “I Relate,” was tracked on a borrowed Tascam around one of these parties.

Movieland gained a little dedicated following, but the group never attained the proper exposure to continue and Boyd dissolved the band back in 1994. Such is the life of bands, but thanks to 604 Decades—a newly launched archival series within the venerated Canadian 604 Group—Then & Now is a compilation of all of Movieland’s material. It sounds very early ’90s, right down to the drum hits feeling far away and the 12-string guitar jangles being hugged by a pillow of tasty bass riffs. Boyd’s vocals recall all of the shoegaze greats, but really remind me of Spiritualized’s Jason Pierce, especially during the 7-and-a-half minute “(A Sort of) Icarus.” Who knows, perhaps this release will raise Movieland’s cult-like aesthetic onto a more modern crowd?

Latest 360 Content

SAT | Sci-Fi Turntablism: Soundtracking Other Worlds

SAT | Sci-Fi Turntablism: Soundtracking Other Worlds

Festival de Lanaudière | Renaud Loranger Explains The Program

Festival de Lanaudière | Renaud Loranger Explains The Program

Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)

Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)

Philippe Massé – Le Vent

Philippe Massé – Le Vent

Panda Bear – Sinister Grift

Panda Bear – Sinister Grift

SAMWOY – Diamond Eyes

SAMWOY – Diamond Eyes

Pro Musica | Marion Portelance and Emmanuel Charest, New Team on Fire

Pro Musica | Marion Portelance and Emmanuel Charest, New Team on Fire

Martin Saint – Seekers

Martin Saint – Seekers

Single of The Day: “Spirit Bomb” by Tucana

Single of The Day: “Spirit Bomb” by Tucana

Syli d’Or 2025 | Raíz Viva and Their Afro-Colombian Percussion

Syli d’Or 2025 | Raíz Viva and Their Afro-Colombian Percussion

Lucy Dacus – Forever Is A Feeling

Lucy Dacus – Forever Is A Feeling

Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power

Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power

The art of entertaining: according to Gang of Four

The art of entertaining: according to Gang of Four

Centre des Musiciens de Monde brings us the martial art of singing!

Centre des Musiciens de Monde brings us the martial art of singing!

Syli d’Or 2025 | Latin America in the final with MARZOS and MATEO

Syli d’Or 2025 | Latin America in the final with MARZOS and MATEO

Syli d’Or 2025 | Reunion Island in The Running with Kozé

Syli d’Or 2025 | Reunion Island in The Running with Kozé

Frank Zappa’s Roxy & Elsewhere + Apostrophe = Rox(Postroph)y played by Dweezil’s Band

Frank Zappa’s Roxy & Elsewhere + Apostrophe = Rox(Postroph)y played by Dweezil’s Band

Jaco – Plan F

Jaco – Plan F

JACO Intends to Succeed With Its Plan F

JACO Intends to Succeed With Its Plan F

The TWO, The Unlikely Blues Duo

The TWO, The Unlikely Blues Duo

Soir de jazz symphonique à Laval

Soir de jazz symphonique à Laval

Meggie Lennon – My Best Self

Meggie Lennon – My Best Self

Critique Love… Critical Minerals in Montreal’s Underground

Critique Love… Critical Minerals in Montreal’s Underground

The Mars Volta – Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio

The Mars Volta – Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio

Subscribe to our newsletter