My Bloody Valentine : 'Isn't Anything' Buick6's remembers/rediscovers.

Buick6

too punk to drunk
It was the 'Lost in Translation' DVD that started it. At the time, seeing the film, that was unanimously praised/ hipified/everyone and their mum went and saw, the totally cool thing was that 'My Bloody Valentine' were on the s/t, but moreso, the film represented a mature and realised representation of the sensual/sexual/emotinal nature of the 'sound' of MBV and then some..

Anyway, I reckon Shields s/t to the film owed more to 'Isn't Anything' era MBV< and hence my rediscovery.

It's in that lethargic, so-fucked-I-cant-beleive it clean guitar strum of 'Cupid Come' where it all clicks, in fact THAT song IS 'Lost in translation' the movie, or the song that inspired it.

I always had trouble with MBV. Firstly they were the sorta band that sounded totally shit and 'empty' on first listen. I always though, I hafta get stoned to 'hear' this album beter, but never actually did. Their sound lacked 'timbre' and the recordings were too shit and C86 like to give them depth. Recently I got a new car with a new stereo syste, and becuase the nature of my life now (I got a young kid), the only chance I can really properly 'listen' to records in a truly 'immersive' environment is in the car - and the new systems help to bring out subtleties sans drugs (though they always help)

But back to troubles with MBV:

Firstly is was their lyrics. I could never decifer what they sung about, beyond 'ooohhs' 'aaaahhhs' 'siiiiiggghhhhs', 'haaaaaahhhhsss'

Then it was the production. On 'Isn't anything' the guitars are tinny and shitty, there is no bottow. The only thing that 'rocks' is the rhythm sections. Deb Goodge is a far better bass player than Kim Gordon ever was or will be. Totally solid bass, and in her own understated way did more for that wankers political-rah that Gordon etal gushed about 'chicks can rock'. They never put Ms Goodge up on the box coz her laying spoke ultimately. Full marks. Some of the stacatto bass maddness on 'Soft as snow' is totally heavy, but it sounds like studio trickery and editing that has done it. Still she is a ROCK SOLID bass player. Nu-metal-goth types take note.

'Lose my breath'. That Karen Carpenter harmony thing is what does it. I dpon't understand why Reynolds calls this 'bliss pop'. MBV's lyrically content verges between porno-like Lolita sex fantasies and kitchen-sink UK depressions.

'Cupid Come'. Yes porno-Lolita-sex fantasies. Very British male. Also the Jesus and Mary Chain inlfuence is very strong here. Shield guitar is great. That lazy strum. Also Go-Betweensish in the ennui. Ennui is a big factor in this music. But kids don't make ennui part of your sex-life you'll never get laid, and probably still don't. Sexy song. needs a porno film-maker like Michael Ninn to make a video clip for it.

'No more sorry' - backend this to 'Cupid Come'. they are both sexual. This one is about abuse. Very grim shit as my car stereo allowed me to finally decipher the lyrics. The Sonic Youth/Kim Gordon sexual-psycho nightmare in effect here. That bland sort of suburban family violence and repression. Like that film 'the War Zone'.

'All I need' - this is where I think the Vallies we finally breaking out of the obvious influences and becoming something truly original. Sure it sounds like Faust's 'Krautrock' track, but it would be perfected and expanded next alb.

Feed me with yr kiss/Sueisfine/You never shoud - the punker moshpit songs. This stuff reminds me of glam. I don't know why. Might be those one-note guitar solos. It's all speed-rush. again, no balls, except in rhythm tracks and bass.

I still can't decide is O'ciosoig is a great drummer. Some of his drum fills and like really tight and then you can actually hear him start tofuck it up. Actually, that pretty great , to do that. Yes, he's a great drummer in his own sorta way.

Alot of the guitar tricks are actually Belida Butcher 'oooinh and ahhing'. They are not overtones messing with yr head.

The compression of distorted guitar sounds wrecks things. I guess they did it first and get points for inventing it. The lack of 'crunch' and timbre is what lets the Vallies down, but I really like their tunes. The harmonies are really nice and well thought out. Both Butcher and Sheilds are great 'singers'. I mean even Eno in his most ambient and 'refracted' has 'crunch' and 'timbre'. A track like Eno's 'skysaw' or Neu's 'negativeland' had all the makings of guitar reinvention as the ultimate shoegazers - diiference was those two still had 'the rock' - it was more likely production and playing skills that made the difference.

I think ultimately MBV were a great 'studio' band, which is prolly why they ultimately couldn't cut as a functional 'rock' act. The 'realness' of their records relied on alot of fakiness that couldn't be properly be presented live properly in the 'rockband' format they ultimately were. Kind of a cruel paradox there, but one that holds up until this day and then some. I still can't figure them out exactly, but I guess thats why I keep coming back to 'em. They invoke 'curiosity' which is a very rare thing in this oversaturated age.

Well that's my two bobs anyway.
 
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