Glo-worm formed in Washington D.C. in 1993, “or it might have been sometime in ’92, no one can remember“. Previously, singer Pam Berry had been in Black Tambourine. Guitarist Terry Banks played in Tree Fort Angst, with an earlier stint in English indiepop combo St. Christopher, and drummer Dan Searing had been in Whorl. During the course of glo-worm’s two-and-a-half-ish year lifespan, the band released three 7” EPs, issued successively by the Somersault, Slumberland and K Records labels all leading up to the Glimmer album which was released (as a CD) by K in 1996 and includes the songs on Glo-Worm‘s volume in the International Pop Underground series, Travelogue, as well as all the other 7″ releases from Glo-Worm.
“Pam Berry vocalisations are quite unique, pleasing. If the original question is “What kind of heaven do you want?” the obvious answer is “One where the angels can sing like Pam Berry.” (Calvin Johnson- K Records).
Now, almost 30 years later, Glimmer was released on September 19th via K Records as a 12” vinyl LP.

What They Say: “Although comfortably under the three-minute mark, this was the longest song in the glo-worm canon. Strummy and propulsive, it does that melancholic-but-hopeful thing that was at the heart of the ‘Worm experience“

“With vocal and percussion performances dripping with elegant restraint, fancy-schmancy diminished guitar chords, and a doleful, waltzy rhythm, there’s no two ways about it: this song was incredibly classy – and via the vinyl re-release of Glimmer, it’s probably now going to become a major hit”

“Aside from a celebrated career spanning five decades, massive record sales, and a devoted worldwide fanbase, there really is very little difference between The Cure and glo-worm. In fact, for many listeners, this song is not so much a “cover” as it is a band doing a song that was done originally by another band“

Their Mixtape:

The Velvet Underground – Femme Fatale

Is this song the blueprint for indiepop?  It might be.  See also: ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ and ‘Sunday Morning.’  Velvets4Ever.

Tracey Thorn – Plain Sailing

Rainy-day melancholia for people who prefer rainy days to sunny ones.

The Monochrome Set – Up

Like a Wee Small Hours-era Sinatra fronting an el records-imagined version of The Smiths, this uplifting downer is a classic for the ages.

The Byrds – The Airport Song

Chet Baker goes jangle?  Cole Porter with a Rickenbacker?  Two minutes, three seconds of unadorned beauty.

Bad Moves – Toward Crescent Park

This wonderful Washington D.C. band just broke up, but this song, especially its chorus  –“Scuffing our feet down alien streets/Search for the words/Call back to me” – is eternal.

Glimmer (12” vinyl LP) is out now via K Records. Look HERE for more information on Glo-worm