Vancouver shoegazers MOVIELAND return with Now & Then, a vibrant new collection of songs via 604 Records. Following the acclaimed 2024 release Then & Now—a reissue that introduced MOVIELAND’s immersive soundscapes to a new generation—Now & Then showcases the band in full creative stride, blending their signature haze-drenched intensity with a renewed sense of exploration and immediacy.
When 604’s Jonathan Simkin approached frontman Alan D. Boyd about reissuing the band’s early work through the label’s Decades initiative, Boyd saw an opportunity. “I asked if he’d be interested in me recording a few new tracks for a follow-up release,” says Boyd. “He said yes and gave me a budget for an EP. Of course, I went and recorded an album.”
The result is Now & Then—a collection of songs written across years and continents, recorded between Boyd’s former studio in London and sessions in Edmonton and Vancouver. “The tracks on Now & Then are a selection of songs that came together over the 30 years I’ve been in London,” Boyd explains. “Some were written in basements in the ’90s, some were demos that had been waiting for the right time, and a couple came together just days before we hit record.” Boyd laid down the foundation of the record in Kentish Town, London, before bringing in collaborators from both the original MOVIELAND lineup and longtime friends from the UK and Canada. Contributors include Rex Roulette (Eagles of Death Metal), Freddie Cowan (The Vaccines), Ev Laroi (Idyl Tea), and Tom Murray (Old Reliable), along with past bandmates John and Clancy, who added drums and bass from afar. “It was the last big project I completed in my studio,” says Boyd. “So it feels pretty special to me.”
Originally formed in 1991, MOVIELAND made their mark with immersive guitar textures, hypnotic rhythms, and melancholic melodies—traits that remain front and center on Now & Then. With nods to shoegaze pioneers like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and The Jesus and Mary Chain, MOVIELAND’s sound continues to evolve without losing its emotional core. “It’s been fun playing a few shows mixing in the old and new tunes,” Boyd reflects. “Trying to do it solo has made me rethink how to recreate those layers with just guitar and voice. But we did a show in my hometown [Edmonton] with a full band, and it kinda knocked it out of the park. I hope I can get out and play more of this—both solo and with a band. Plus, I’ve got 15 more songs ready to go… so let’s see!”
