MONDAY SEES THE RELEASE OF THE FIRST NEW MATERIAL IN A DECADE FROM INFLUENTIAL KRISTIN HERSH-FRONTED BAND THROWING MUSES. PURGATORY / PARADISE IS ISSUED AS A LUXURY HARDBACK BOOK AND CD BY UK PUBLISHING HOUSE THE FRIDAY PROJECT (AND BY IT BOOKS IN THE US). THE 32 SONGS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A SUITE OF DOWNLOADABLE EXTRA MATERIAL INCLUDING AN INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF THE WHOLE ALBUM PLUS A FULL TRACK-BY-TRACK COMMENTARY RECORDED BY KRISTIN AND DRUMMER DAVE NARCIZO.

Formed in the early 1980s as an outlet for Kristin’s intense songwriting, the band also featured her stepsister Tanya Donelly (who, herself, recently featured in a double-edition of The Mouthcast, here). Signed to legendary UK label 4AD (a story covered in depth by Martin Aston’s recently published book FACING THE OTHER WAY: THE STORY OF 4AD, reviewed here), despite its often abrasive and challenging sound Throwing Muses found cult acclaim on British shores.
Donelly left in 1991 to work as part of The Breeders, then Belly, and, later, as a solo artist, while prolific Hersh continued to front the band alongside the release of solo records, many of them more delicately textured in conveying the imagery of her imagination than the volatile, complex and time-shifting fever-rock of Throwing Muses.
The hardback book PURGATORY / PARADISE has been beautifully put together – by drummer / graphic designer Narcizo – to accompany the music with photographs and semi-explanatory or impressionistic essays from Kristin, each element complementing the others until a more complete picture surfaces.

In this enlightening new edition of The Mouthcast, she discusses Throwing Muses, in particular this project; talks about the unusual genesis of her songs; and reveals her thoughts on the music industry and the use of the internet by indie musicians.