A little while back, I ordered the Never Lose That Feeling compilation CD from the good folks at Club AC30 in the UK, who are both a club night and record label in the same way that Shimmer is both a floor cleaner and dessert topping. It features a slew of current shoegaze-centric bands covering classic tracks by first-generation shoegaze bands, both big names and small. I was somewhat surprised by how solid it is, even if I don’t know a good number of the coverers or coverees.

Thankfully, there’s a lot more sonic variety than you might expect – it’s not all distortion and reverb. There’s some overly faithful covers (Hello Amusement Parks On Fire vs My Bloody Valentine, Hinterland vs Lush), but there are also some more creative reinterpretations (AmAnSet’s Andrew Kenny turns in a lovely acoustic version of Spiritualized’s “Angel Sigh” and Plumbline’s glacial take on Catherine Wheel’s “Black Metallic”).

Club AC30 is streaming some tracks from the album on their MySpace page. It was just released in North America through Clairecords and is available at Tonevendor, and there are two more volumes to follow. It’s a worthy record, not just because of the nostalgic factor from hearing old favourites redone given respect, but because it also shows there’s lots of new acts not only carrying on the style, but moving it forward into new places.

And speaking of the genre and its forebears, Are You Familiar is undertaking the noble and daunting task of chronicling the history of shoegazing. Parts one, two and three are currently up. I don’t know how many parts there will be, ultimately, but it’ll be interesting reading.

And speaking of Ride, sadly plans for the Ride DVD have been scuttled by the fact that one of the centrepieces of the planned document, the live footage of their triumphant Reading 1992 performance, has been lost by the owners. A contingency plan is being assembled, but that’s still very disappointing. Also, Mark Gardener has released his debut solo album, These Beautiful Ghosts, on which he was backed by his touring band Goldrush. Listen to some of it via this e-card. Gardener will be touring North America this December in support.

And speaking of Andrew Kenny (if you backtrack a few items), he’s told Paste that the upcoming tour in support of Set Free will be the band’s last. They’re not breaking up, just giving up life on the road (though a review in the new Magnet calls the album their “swan song”). AmAnSet is a great live band, it’s a shame they’re giving up that aspect of their music, but that’s all the more reason to see them at the Horseshoe on November 13. Via PrefixBlog.

Billboard has more info on the forthcoming Cat Power album The Greatest, out January 24.

The local media finds an angle on tomorrow’s Death Cab For Cutie show at the Kool Haus. Read pieces from NOW and The Toronto Sun.

Monkey. Kitten. Hulk.

np – various artists / Blue Skied An’ Clear