2024 marks the 20th Anniversary of Sister 9 Recordings — and to celebrate, the first release of the year will be what would/should have been the very first release (way back in 2000) by lo-fi/post-punk/scuzz-rock label-founders, DOLIUM.

The "Bald Doll / Veronica Ann" AA 7-inch single did actually make it to the white label test-press stage shortly after being recorded in early 2000, but funds weren't available to manufacture it and the record was shelved.

Now, more than two decades later, the single is finally available as a "FREE/pay what you like" digital download exclusively in the S9 Shop and will also become available on all streaming platforms and in digital stores on January 12th, 2024.

Later in the year, Sister 9 will also release a Limited Edition CD Set titled "The Products Of Our Own Demands And Commands", telling the story of the band and unearthing the roots of the label. The release will include the band’s entire

discography (all newly remastered by Rhys Bloodjoy in the S9 Studio), plus many unheard recordings, including their long-lost, unreleased third album, Brother Transistor!

More details about the CD Set can be found over at Sister9.com and the AA single can be downloaded for free right now via this link: https://bit.ly/dolium-bdva

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BAND QUOTES:

"As the only comprehensible line in the song states, 'Bald Doll' was in fact inspired by the memorable sight of a dirty and discarded "bald doll in a bus stop". The track was recorded on stolen studio time after a late night gig in Sheffield and finished at around 5am, three hours before The Lighthouse Family were due to arrive, so we had to pack up and leave in a hurry, haha."

"The white-noise guitar sound in Veronica Ann accidentally emerged from a broken effect pedal. The song itself was an early live crowd favourite — although in 1999, disco/dance-rock wasn’t so popular, so we always felt like were taking a bit of a risk."

In their early days, Dolium caused quite a buzz on the UK underground music scene; first in 1999/2000 with their sonic assault on the city of Sheffield - and then some years later, when their 2004 DIY'd debut single (and their label’s first ever releaseunder the name of Parlour 9) quickly caught the attention of BBC radio legend, John Peel.

The story actually began when Adamo and De Vine met in the suburbs of Leeds during late 1997. Within a few months, they had recorded their first demo tape using a drum machine named Laura. Simon Frederick Himsworth joined the band in early 1999.

That summer, the band played their first proper gigs and soon created mass hysteria in and around the city of Sheffield, where a large and loyal fan base soon amassed. The band received great press as several hundred fans would queue to see them play a 25 minute 'graveyard slot' at the infamous Leadmill.

Gigs were intense. She would stand menacingly as he threw himself around the stage, then off the stage and then finally through the drums, often mid-set. Bone fractures and broken skin were commonplace. Unsuspecting crowds would be

pounced upon. Mosh-pits were lovingly doused in petroleum — and all at a time when rowdy guitar bands in the UK weren't so popular within the music industry, and Stooges/Velvets/Birthday Party type comparisons weren't thrown around too often.

In fact, the band's management were told "right band, wrong time" by several industry folks at that point, but regardless, many of Sheffield's 'faces' became fans, with members of Pulp, Babybird, All Seeing I, The Human League and by all

accounts, even soon-to-be-Arctic Monkeys being in attendance at gigs. The Hives supported Dolium around this time and Campag Velocet opened a very tense show. Mistress De Vine haircuts even became symbolic of the 'Sheffield is Sex City' initiation.

All of this, and the band hadn't released anything except for a couple of lo-fi demo tapes which were given away at gigs. The band hoped to change that with the recording of what would have been the "Bald Doll / Veronica Ann" AA 7-inch, but

funds weren't available and soon after, the Sheffield-era gradually slowed to a halt.

After retreating into their creative space, Dolium re-emerged in 2004 with their debut single, "Driving With The Deathettes / Daddy's Swinging In The Attic" and followed it with their much praised debut album, "Kisses Fractures", in 2005.

The rest, as they say, is history...

DOLIUM share double A-side ‘Bald Doll’ / ‘Veronica Ann’ - out January 17th

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