Purge Purge & Slouch [25th Anniversary Edition]

Giant Sand: Howe Gelb (vocals, acoustic guitar, guitar, harmonica, keyboards, percussion, samples); Malcolm Burn (guitar, bass); Al Perry, Loren Dircks (guitar); Rainer Ptacek (dobro); Neil Harry (pedal steel); Joe (cello, acoustic bass, bass); Mark Walton, Paula Brown, Joey Burns (bass); John Convertino (drums); Sofie (background vocals).
Recorded in Tucson, Arizona in summer, 1993.
Personnel: Howe Gelb (vocals, guitar, piano); Loren Dirks, Al Perry, Malcolm Burn (guitar); Rainer Ptacek (dobro); Joey Burns (acoustic bass); John Convertino (drums).
Audio Remasterer: Jim Blackwood.
Liner Note Author: Howe Gelb.
Recording information: Harvey Moltzs' Living Room, Tuscon (1993).
This album followed the concise and exemplary CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. It's a wonderful sprawl of 21 songs that show Giant Sand in its every guise. There are instrumental jams that sparkle with immediacy and surprise, unfolding in first-take innocence and glee. Howe Gelb and his cohorts in Arizona can execute a Dylan-esque reverie as well as they can handle a Neil Young & Crazy Horse-like basher. Rainer Ptacek's adds tasteful dobro playing to the few tracks on which he guests. Other visitors include Al Perry, Susan Cowsill, and Vicki Peterson. Though PURGE & SLOUCH was recorded at different times and locations, it jells as one cohesive work because of Gelb's engaging and unmistakable character.