Slip, Manic Compression and Our First Run

Two records from the nineties sit at the heart of Quicksand: Slip and Manic Compression. Here is the story behind them, and how they show up in our merch.

Where did it start?

Before the albums came our first EP, Quicksand, released on Revelation Records in 1990, the year we formed in New York City. It took New York hardcore somewhere heavier and slower, the sound we kept building on.

What is Slip?

In 1992 we signed to Polydor, and in 1993 we released Slip, our first full-length album: grinding riffs, room to breathe between them, and Walter Schreifels' voice on top. In our store, Slip has its own design: the word slip in dripping orange letters, with the 30th Anniversary Tour and its city dates on the back.

What came next?

Manic Compression followed in 1995 on Island. It closed our first run: we split later that year. We came back from 1997 to 1999, but the songs we worked on then were never put out as an album.

How do the records show up in the merch?

• Album titles: Slip sits on our designs in its own lettering.
• Our name: the hand-drawn red Quicksand wordmark runs through the collection.
• Every garment: each design comes on tees, long sleeves, crewnecks and hoodies, with kids' and youth sizes too.

Where do I start?

• New to the band: start with Slip, then put on Manic Compression.
• Pick a design: check the size chart on its product page, then choose your garment.

Find the designs in the Quicksand shop.