Thunder Lightning Strike (20th Anniversary Edition) vinyl

Thunder Lightning Strike by The Go! Team turns 20 this year, and it still sounds as exhilaratingly offbeat as it did back in 2004. The album's sonic world feels like rifling through dusty VHS tapes, setting off random fireworks, and finding beauty in the chaos of lo-fi production. It's an eclectic mash-up of influencesian explosion of sound that somehow captures the spirit of a laser-filled, sun-drenched summer day. This final reissue, complete with a translucent red vinyl pressing and a reproduction of the original CD-R demo, pays homage to the unorthodox approach of band leader Ian Parton. His methodiborn of a DIY ethos and a fascination with sound collageiresulted in an album that doesn't so much defy categorisation as completely reject it. It's a kaleidoscopic mix of hip-hop beats, cheerleader chants, fuzzed-out guitars, and brass fanfares that feel like they belong to a fever dream of 70s cop shows and kids' TV theme tunes. Even now, Thunder Lightning Strike remains a singular experience, dripping with future nostalgia. It was ahead of its time when it dropped and still resists fitting into any particular genre. In the age of streaming, where everything feels neatly labelled, The Go! Team's wild, genre-splicing celebration of sound feels refreshingly unpredictable.