harry smith, my bloody valentine and reliving my sonic youth
went to see the harry smith anthology remixed exhibition at the cca earlier. it’s worth a visit. the 84 drawings, paintings, photographs, texts, scrawls, gloops, doodles, collages and comic strips are in the main fascinating/entertaining/amusing. some though seem to have minimal connection to the music which i would’ve thought was the point. and, well, more of an attempt to integrate the actual recordings into the mix would have been nice. minor gripes though. particular shouts to zoviet*france, dave portner, heather leigh murray oh and bill drummond dripping sincerity/sarcasm (i can’t tell anymore) “there is something fundamentally very fake about me liking this music. it says something about me that i don’t like.” anyway there’s a more comprehensive review here.
despite my best attempts to see some music after, only jason mraz?? had stepped up to the plate and took on the mighty draw of my bloody valentine. i really don’t get mbv for some reason, despite: loving noise, loving guitars, loving (not in that way) podgy guys with mini tank battalions of effects pedals. i don’t understand why a) i don’t like them and b) they’re so popular. i think there’s a certain fashionable mystique that’s built up about them and other than that the appeal baffles me. i hate reunions too. finger off the pulse again bob….
so gave up, came home and trawled through some links, emails and halfremembered bands i quite like after seeing/hearing ages ago. they all for various reasons take me back ten fifteen years…
firstly, from the bowels of reptilian records come the monstrous bludgeoning filth of dactyl. this is nasty, hairy balls to the meatgrinding wall, rock and roll. like everything on touch & go and amphetamine reptile that was unholy and sprawlingly messy and heavy as fuck back in the day.
secondly french band marvin who indulge in some glorious riffage a la oxes, trans am, jesus lizard, devo and a whole bunch of other ace bands who still succumb to the rock. you can get a free ep download from here. go do it and relive MY musical youth. yours? yours was rubbish.
discose:
lastly, the supremely drunk, grim and grotty stupid/clever rubbish of suede denim secret police. saw them in the vale ages ago. as hairy and ugly as their pub rock garage stomp suggests. the guy on guitar licked his own nipple sweat. funny, if you’re amused (as i am) by this sort of scottish (un)musical stram(m)ash. lying somewhere in an addled bermuda triangle of the sex pistols, arab strap and the macc lads. stupid boys music as my unmarried wife might describe them. playing (not literally) with the bucky rage at 13th note 24th july 2008.
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enjoy?
