MOVIELAND Revives Vancouver’s Shoegaze Scene

Vancouver’s 604 Records has released Then & Now, an album by cult shoegazers Movieland, marking the first installment of 604 Decades — a newly launched archival series within the venerated 604 Group. This release takes an official look back at Vancouver’s rich, if unexplored, arts history. While the trio hadn’t reached the top of the marquee when they were active in the early ‘90s, the stunningly psych-spiralled melodicism found on this rarities and demos collection proves that Movieland should have been a blockbuster.

At the heart of Movieland is singer-guitarist Alan D. Boyd, an Edmonton-raised musician who briefly moved to Montreal to play bass in garage rock legends the Gruesomes before settling in Vancouver in 1991. It’s here that he started working at Benny’s Bagels alongside drummer Justin Leigh. After bonding over British bands like The Stone Roses and Slowdive, the pair reached out to bassist John Ounpuu to start creating their own gain-blasted, heart-swelling hypno-jams.

By the time Movieland started writing their second demo, Boyd had moved into “The Mansion,” a crumbling rental in Vancouver’s upscale Shaughnessy neighbourhood that housed a mix of derelict musicians and artists.

A small but dedicated fanbase bought tapes and attended off-the-grid indie shows, but Movieland struggled to gain broader exposure. They never landed a breakthrough gig, despite an A&R scout showing interest at one performance ,and ironically signing the opening band. After Ounpuu and Leigh left to form the pop-driven quartet Pluto, Boyd connected with bassist Cam Cunningham and drummer Clancy Denehy to track two final, melodically gain-freaked Movieland anthems—“Build Me a Dream” and “She’s a Mountain.” Boyd embraced the playful nickname “My Bloody Alantine”. Shortly after, he sold his belongings and left British Columbia to roadie across Europe for SNFU, eventually settling in the UK.

When Jonathan Simkin, founder of 604 Records and one of Movieland’s biggest boosters, reached out years later about the old music, Boyd rediscovered tapes and live footage to compile Then & Now. This nostalgic project has reignited his shoegazing spirit, with new Movieland tracks on the way through 604 Decades. This release marks a significant moment for 604 Records, launching the 604 Decades project to celebrate Vancouver’s rich, often overlooked musical history. By spotlighting Movieland and other local acts from the ‘90s and early 2000s, the label aims to revive memories of a vibrant alternative music scene. Future releases will include an album by Pure in 2025, further expanding its mission to unearth Vancouver’s hidden musical narratives.

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