Friday 15 April 2016

50 songs to take to my grave #44: Sweetness And Light

Here's a record that takes me right back to a difficult time in my life, yet makes me feel so happy and warm. And let's face it, who couldn't feel like that when listening to this track? This was only Lush's third release and their first 'proper' single (following the 'Scar' and 'Mad Love' EPs), yet I was already madly in love with Miki Berenyi and turned to Lush whenever I needed a bit of a lift.

At more than 5 minutes in length, Sweetness And Light was Lush's longest song by far at that point, but it could have been even twice as long as that and I'd never want it to end. Some of that is down to its masterful production by Tim Friese-Green - better known for his work with Talk Talk. Everything just sounds so perfect. Miki and Emma's voices are set just far enough back in the mix to give that dreamy, ethereal feel without struggling to be heard. While the guitars are prominent, they are subtle as well, layered and textured with just enough effects to glisten and sparkle, but not too many as to distract from those gorgeous wraithlike vocals.

Sweetness And Light shows Emma Anderson is a quality songwriter. I really don't think she was given nearly enough credit for her role in the Lush story. It was, apparently, her new songs that convinced bassist Steve Rippon their current reformation was worthwhile. Sweetness And Light is going to be one of the highlights of the upcoming shows I'm sure. I envy every single person who's going to be there.

I always preferred Lush over their peers - Ride, Curve, MBV, Pale Saints, etc. They just had that something extra about them. Miki probably... I did struggle a little to decide what I was going to include in the series, but Sweetness And Light was always going to nick it. It has held up so well over 26 years, and I still find myself turning to it in my low moments.

It was called 'shoegaze' at the time; nowadays it's tagged as 'dreampop'. I don't give a crap what people call it, to me Lush just represent beauty, joy, sweetness and light.



Soundtrack:

Here's the video featuring a rather unsatisfying edit of the song. But look, it's Miki... ahhh...

5 comments:

  1. Hmmm ... reading this leaves me with the impression that you might probably have a very small crush on Miki - but then again I'm surely wrong, as usual ...

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    1. Dirk, there has never been anything 'very small' about my crush on Miki...

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  2. This would be my pick too. If all goes according to plan, I will be seeing Lush on Wednesday. The EP hits stores here a week from today. I know you ordered yours directly from them. Did that mean you got yours early?

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    1. I got it last week, beautifully signed. It's very good, no radical change of direction, but 4 decent songs. Like they've never been away.

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  3. "Everything just sounds so perfect. Miki and Emma's voices are set just far enough back in the mix to give that dreamy, ethereal feel without struggling to be heard. While the guitars are prominent, they are subtle as well, layered and textured with just enough effects to glisten and sparkle, but not too many as to distract from those gorgeous wraithlike vocals."

    A perfect paragraph. Great song. First one of theirs I ever heard.

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