The first time we heard about the Walkabouts was through a track on Sub Pop 200, a 1988 Seattle compilation that pre-staged the Grunge revolution. But the Walkabouts were anything but a grunge band; dark, haunting, and elegiac, their work instead sprung forth from the storytelling traditions of American roots music and the kinetic excitement of rock & roll. They formed in 1984 and after more then 20 years the core of the band Chris Eckman (Guitar, Vocals), Carla Torgerson (Guitar, Voals) and Glenn Slater (Keyboards) are still together. Drummer Terri Moeller is with them for more than ten years and long time bass-player Michael Wells has lately returned to the fold. Over the course of 15 albums and 20 years of existence, The Walkabouts have done their best to avoid being obvious. Possibly at times they have been too elusive and shadowy. Then again, since they never entirely figured out what they are looking for, they are still together, they are still chasing, they are still in search of sounds and words. I actually wanted to start this write-up with the words: “The Glitterhouse veterans return!” But as the word “veteran” somehow implies a hard-lived life and a certain tiredness The Walkabouts are far from being tired. With “Acytelene” they have actually recorded the loudest and angriest record in their career. Its is almost punk rock in it's aggressiveness. “Acytelene” was produced with Tucker Martine and features Jessie Sykes, Laura Veirs, Jim White and Al Deloner (from Midnight Choir, on electric guitar). The first pressing of "Acetylene" will come in the elaborate Ecolbook packaging.