2007年 03月 28日 水曜日 20:21

I’m normally fairly balanced as a writer, but I gush like a 10-year-old fangirl when talking about the immaculate My Bloody Valentine. They appeared out of nowhere in the mid-80’s, cut a few beguiling singles, two extraordinary albums (Isn’t Anything and Loveless), then vanished. Kevin Shields, the band’s resident guitar god, blended the swirling distortions of 80’s indie rock, the dreamy soundscapes of the Cocteau Twins, folk, dance and minimalism into a sound that pushed guitar (and music, really) further than anyone had ever dared to venture before, while vocalist Bilinda Butcher wrote beautifully impressionistic lyrics and sang them in her heart-breakingly gorgeous whispery tone. As a 16-year-old, born the same year “Soon” was released, these songs really shouldn’t mean as much to me as they do. But there’s no group like MBV out now. When I hear “Honey Power” (from the Tremolo EP), “Cigarette In Your Bed” (You Made Me Realise EP) or “Loomer” (Loveless), I don’t hear a song that’s fifteen years old. I hear the colors of my dreams. I hear the sounds of eternity encapsulated in song. I hear music that hits closer to my soul than anything else termed rock music.

A GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS
Prepare yourself beforehand. I loved this group from the first time “Only Shallow” poured from the speakers of my stereo. However, I was coming from a different frame of reference. Acquaint yourself with the mavens of 90’s rock. Nirvana, Radiohead and The Smashing Pumpkins all had their MBV-sounding moments. Blur’s “Oily Water” (from their fabulous 1993 album Modern Life Is Rubbish) has an outro that could easily fit on Loveless. Sonic Youth and the Jesus and Mary Chain were big influences on MBV, as were The Ramones. Once you’ve done that, download these tracks:

-My Bloody Valentine- Only Shallow
-My Bloody Valentine- When You Sleep
-My Bloody Valentine- Honey Power
-My Bloody Valentine- (When You Wake) You’re Still In a Dream
-My Bloody Valentine- Sometimes

Then buy (or download), Loveless and Isn’t Anything. Marvel at their greatness, then look at some of the Eps I’ve mentioned in this entry.

Links
My Bloody Valentine
LovelessIsn't AnythingTremolo EPCocteau Twins
Nirvana
Radiohead
The Smashing Pumpkins
Blur
Honey PowerSoon
Cigarette In Your Bed
Only ShallowOily Water
When You SleepYou Made Me Realise
Sometimes(When You Wake) You're Still In A Dream
Sonic Youth
Ramones
You Made Me Realise
Tremolo