Product Code Database
Bailter Space (a.k.a. Bailterspace) is a New Zealand shoegaze and noise rock band that formed in Christchurch in 1987 as Nelsh Bailter Space; they had previously recorded as the Gordons. Its members are Alister Parker (guitar, bass), John Halvorsen (bass, guitar), and Brent McLachlan (drums/percussion, samples). After releasing seven studio albums, numerous EPs/singles and a career retrospective compilation, Bailter Space went on an extended hiatus in 2004. They returned in August 2008 to play the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan.
Nelsh Bailter Space was formed by Parker and former The Clean drummer Hamish Kilgour in 1987, initially completing the line-up with Glenda Bills on keyboards and Ross Humphries (also of the Terminals, and formerly of the Pin Group), later shortening its name to Bailter Space.Thompson, Dave (2000) Alternative Rock, Miller Freeman, , pp. 173–174 After a couple of singles, Bills and Humphries left, with Halvorsen joining on bass, this line-up recording the Tanker album and the "Grader Spader" single, both produced by Brent McLachlan. The band travelled to the United States where they played at the New Music Seminar in 1988, and when they returned, Kilgour opted to stay there with his new wife and form a new band, The Mad Scene. Parker and Halvorsen recruited McLachlan as the new drummer, recreating the original Gordons lineup. This line-up debuted with the Thermos album, recorded in 1989.Ankeny, Jason "", AllMusic, Macrovision Corporation
After several releases on Flying Nun, and after changing base several times between New Zealand, Germany, and the US, New York City indie label Matador Records signed them for release in the United States, in approximately 1990. The 1992 EP The Aim was the band's first official U.S. release, and was released as two separate 7-inch singles in the UK, with both awarded "Single of the Week" by Melody Maker. The band moved to New York City during the 1993 Robot World sessions. The EIP EP was released, containing slightly-remixed versions of two Robot World tracks and two that would appear on the forthcoming Vortura. Vortura would be followed a year later by Wammo. In 1999 the band performed in Toronto as part of the Neon Palm Festival.. Chart Attack, Howard Druckman
After this, their U.S. releases came out on NYC-based label Turnbuckle Records, which folded circa 2002. In 2004, Matador Records deleted all Bailter Space releases from their catalog. The band's releases are now out of print, except for in New Zealand / Australia.
A career-spanning retrospective compilation, Bailterspace, was issued in 2004.
In August 2008, Bailter Space emerged from a 4-year hiatus to perform live at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. They were joined by new recruit Ian Ljungquist filling in on the bass.
A new album entitled Strobosphere was released in New Zealand on 13 August 2012 and in the United States on 21 August 2012.
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
| 1987 | "New Man" | "New Man", "In a City Wardrobe" | Flying Nun FN096 | — | Nelsh Bailter Space |
| 1988 | "Grader Spader" | "Grader Spader", "The Escalator Song", "N.B.S." | Flying Nun FN106 | — | Tanker |
| 1992 | "The Aim" | "The Aim", "We Know" | Clawfist HUNKA 16 | 43 | The Aim |
| 1992 | "Shine" | "Shine", "The Unseen" | Clawfist HUNKA 16 | — | The Aim |
| 1993 | "B.E.I.P." | "X", "Projects", "Robot World", "E I P" | Flying Nun FNCD284 | 45 | Robot World |
| 1995 | "Splat" | "Splat", "Retro", "At Five We Drive", "Fascination" | Flying Nun FNCD328 | 48 | Wammo |
| 1995 | "Retro" | "Retro", "Projects (Live)", "Begin (Live)" | Flying Nun FNCD345 | — | Wammo |
| 1997 | "Capsul" | "The Capsul", "Argonaut" | Turnbuckle TR-003 | — | Capsul |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
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