Something Better

I'll have to make a small apology for my last (musical) post. In hindsight that Prodigy remix ain't all that. It's not a BAD track, but it's not something I particularly ever want to listen to again. I'm sure a time will come when I do run out of great music to post, but it won't be for a while yet!

I shall attempt to rectify my faux-pas with one of the strangest and most wonderful records I own.

Mercury Rev were my favourite band for a long while. Until, in fact, original singer David Baker left. The tensions within the original line-up frequently resulted in full on fist fights, no doubt provoked by Baker's prolific drug consumption. He was, to be frank, a proper nut job. I only had the opportunity to see them once in this period, but it was truly glorious. The band struggled to hold the set together in the face of Baker's erratic behaviour, with him rolling around the stage, joining the audience for a drink and then launching into a spit and bile filled tirade an inch from another unfortunate spectator's face - but somehow hold it together they did, and there was magic amongst the balloons and madness.



Yerself is Steam, their debut album, is a stone cold psychedelic classic. I only heard of it after it came in at #4 in Melody Maker's end of year chart, and finding the record in a second-hand shop soon after was the beginning of a long-time love affair. I hadn't heard anything like it before or since. Then came two genius singles in 'Car Wash Hair' and Sly Stone cover 'If You Want Me To Stay', both of which led me to be feverishly anticipating 'Boces', their second album - which as far as i'm concerned is one of the great lost classics. (Not least because the band themselves have disassociated themselves with it.)

It's challenging listening, sure - with beautiful melodies alternating with bursts of extreme noise - but there such is a pop sensibility beneath the feedback and stream-of-conciousness lyrics that it doesn't once often become tedious or self-indulgent. Suzanne Thorpe's flute has also been sorely missed from later efforts, lending these early records an ethereal, otherworldly quality.

I've not given up on the band since David Baker left - 'Deserters Songs' in particular is a masterpiece - but the last two records have been pale imitations of their former glories.

This track, 'So There' is a bit of an odd one even by early Rev standards. It was released as the b-side to 'The Hum Is Coming From Her' - a strange choice of single to say the least, since the track (called 'Girlfren' on Boces) is pretty much the worst song on the first two albums.

'So There' is essentially a poem read out by beat poet Robert Creeley with musical backing by The Rev. It's quite a hard record to do justice by writing about...and if I try it'll probably end up sounding like something you don't want to hear. Please give it a listen though. You'll probably start off not liking it much, then half way through you'll think 'yeah, this isn't bad actually', and by the time the joyous insane ragtime piano finale comes you'll have your finger hovering over the 'rewind' button in preparation for another ride.

This became a bit of an anthem* in our flat in my first year at University... mainly due to my friend / flatmate Rick getting quite obsessed with it!

MERCURY REV (FEAT. ROBERT CREELEY) - SO THERE

'While we can,
let's do it,
let's have fun'

As a bonus here's one of the best tracks from Boces. With David Baker in quite restrained form.

MERCURY REV - HI-SPEED BOATS


Do yerself a favour and BUY Yerself is Steam if you don't have it... it's a masterpiece! I'll probably rave about it some more at a later date...



* When not Mu Mu'ing to the KLF!