Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
Album #56: Loveless – My Bloody Valentine
“Sleep like a pillow {unintelligible lyrics}”
James Joyce, during the writing of Ulysses, spent an entire day putting two words in just the right order, to obtain the mot juste. Ulysses stands as one of the greatest, densest, and profound works of literature ever created; and I have the distinct feeling that Kevin Shields gets it, if the album Loveless is any indication.
My Bloody Valentine
This album, released in 1991, is sound incarnate. Kevin Shields & Co. give Phil Spector a run for his wall of money with pure, aggressive lo-fi brick wall guitars. From the opening blast of hundreds of guitars on “Only Shallow” that feel like a wave of oneiric purple flowing over your skull, bashing you relentlessly with waves of whammy bar, undertow down-tuned distortion, and hundreds of guitars. You’re immediately pulled into an atmosphere of sound that can best be described as oceanic and subconscious.
The unintelligible lyrics only enhance the sense that you are in a dream; the proportions are wrong, off, or canted in a way that is profoundly meaningless. The samples and layering and overblown complexity, take on the quality of simplicity, with sound and feedback perpetually opening itself to greater waves of up and down, in and out. The contractions and peristalsis make one shudder and gaze at the shoes in numb dream-like awe.
This album was responsible for the financial ruin of its parent company, because of its protracted recording sessions.
This album was responsible for the financial ruin of its parent company, because of its protracted recording sessions. I am sure in the mix, in some part you aren’t even aware existed. Shields spent a whole day recording a number of guitar lines just to make sure it sounded just right; inventing “Glide Guitar” in the process.
While Ulysses is hailed by many as the greatest novel of all time (present company included), it is a dense, obscure work that frustrates the casual. It’s allusions and construction are so foreign to common listening that trying to piece together what it’s saying takes time, effort, and patience. Factors not many people have.
Loveless is a dream, with no beginning or end, and blurred lines that distinguish nothing but put everything in greater clarity.
I can dig it.
Until I know what’s real.
