Album Notes

Recess is the first recording from Sugarboom and documents the original line-up that included Matt’s brother Eric Peterson on drums and Brady Smith on bass. Sugarboom played in the usual places reserved for underground, punk, garage and otherwise esoteric pop bands; Satyricon, Blue Gallery and X-ray Café. Recess was released as a cassette tape in 1990 before CD’s were common, especially from Portland bands that did everything DIY. We had always planned on re-releasing Recess as a CD but events and lack of money got in the way. Shortly after the cassette's release, Sugarboom recorded a single for Schizophonic Records and embarked upon a 2 month nationwide tour playing with the likes of Small Factory, Gigolo Aunts, The New Bomb Turks, and Appellation Death Ride, to name a few. After the tour Eric and Brady went their separate ways. Anne Stark and Ken Adams soon joined the band leading to a deal with Tim/Kerr Records and recording with Greg Sage; but more on that some other time.

Although it was well received upon its release, the cassette Recess was quickly forgotten as formats changed and as Sugaboom itself changed. I hope you enjoy this music. After so much time has passed some of the tracks may sound a bit dated but I think the music still retains some of the charm and alarm of a young band during an exciting and formative moment in Portland’s rock history.

-Michael Donhowe