Back catalogue:

Review: The long-awaited box set, The Shadow Ring (1992-2002), offers an exhaustive overview of the prolific decade-long existence of the British band. Featuring eleven CDs, one DVD, and a 450-page book, this collection delves deep into the enigmatic force that was The Shadow Ring. Formed in Folkestone by teenagers Graham Lambkin, Darren Harris, and later Tim Goss, the band produced eight LPs, several 7"s and numerous live shows and zine appearances, now compiled for the first time. This set captures The Shadow Ring's evolution, from early recordings in Lambkin's parents' house to brooding mid-period notoriety and uncompromising late experiments with electronics, voice, and tape. The band's sound, marked by brash rawness, wry lyricism, and stripped-down angularity, morphs significantly but retains core sensibilities. Included are 200 songs, live cuts, rarities, and complete releases, alongside twenty-nine rarely-heard recordings and proto-Shadow Ring projects like the Cat & Bells Club and Footprint cassettes. The accompanying book features a detailed biographical essay by Blank Forms artistic director Lawrence Kumpf, hundreds of photos, interviews, a complete discography with lyrics, and assorted ephemera, offering a vivid history of mail-order networks, recording sessions, and tours. This comprehensive collection not only preserves the band's mystique but provides new insights for both fans and newcomers, capturing the full arc of The Shadow Ring's unconventional yet influential journey.