As we announced with some excitement this morning (‘Oh Frabjous Day! All Evil & Snideness Is Vanquished!’), Robert Hampson’s Loop have announced that they are to reform for a series of gigs in 2013 and 2014, and will be curating ATP’s End Of An Era Part 2 festival at Camber Sands this November.
Now Hampson has issued a statement – which you can read in full further down the page – explaining that their reasons for reforming were partly down to the fact that the band’s split "didn’t really finish that well". "To perform from all stages of the Loop arc," it reads, "enjoy it again, hoping that we make plenty of people happy again and maybe give people a chance to see it for the first time… then, we can put it finally to rest with a better feeling of completion and that a chapter is really over. I sincerely hope it may be refreshing to us and to others."
In addition, the group have announced that they will be reissuing on LP various albums from their back catalogue: second album Fade Out on June 10th, and third album A Gilded Eternity on August 19th. The albums have been remastered from the original analogue recordings, and will be released on 45rpm double vinyl in editions of 3000 copies, via Reactor. Debut album Heaven’t End is already available, and A World In Your Eyes is set for reissue in 2014.
The Loop curated ATP’s initial line-up, also announced today, features The Pop Group, 23 Skidoo, Fennesz, Edan (DJ set), Eaux, Hookworms, The KVB and Thought Forms, with more to be announced. More info and tickets will be available at the ATP site.
The full statement from Robert Hampson runs as follows:
"It was a long time ago… and it didn’t really finish that well. I’m not sure anyone of us can really put our fingers on specific reasons, for they are legion, but after many, many years of being asked why not play again, I can’t seem to find any excuses for why not to anymore. To always pursue a forward motion has been my goal, but what goes around comes around, as they say.
"It seems that as much as you try to run as far as you can away from it, your past will always haunt you. I have never really slept well over the demise of Loop, it always felt unfinished. If I had a pound coin given to me for every time I get asked to reform Loop, I’d be a very rich man by now. I had always baulked at the idea, especially when I have been asked to perform songs with a pick-up band, something I could never do… ever.
"It’s not that I am precious, but at the same time, without John and Neil holding down that centre, I’d never be able to wave, it would never be the same.
"I’m so proud to say that the line-up of John Wills, Neil Mackay, Scott Dowson and myself have agreed to perform a limited number of shows from late-2013 to mid-2014 at various venues across the world. To perform from all stages of the Loop arc, enjoy it again, hoping that we make plenty of people happy again and maybe give people a chance to see it for the first time… then, we can put it finally to rest with a better feeling of completion and that a chapter is really over. I sincerely hope it may be refreshing to us and to others. For some, it may simply not be on their radar anymore. Well, it’s simple enough for them, don’t buy a ticket. It’s going to blink and you miss it because it’s not going to be around long, I refuse to prolong it and for it to become embarrassing. It’ll be sharp and to the point… straight to your heart and then, it’s gone.
"ATP is the only place this could happen and be done well. Who else would offer the chance not only to play but also curate some of the bands alongside Loop on the day? It’s quite special to be able to do this and make it happen. Besides, Barry Hogan has pestered me for so long about this, it would seem rather unfair not to let him have his 5 minutes of fame getting Loop to play again."
