HeadCleaner Single Reviews

29th June, 1998

"Legacy" by Mansun

Just as some of us were beginning to fear that British music truly was dead (I blame those fucking awful football songs), along come Mansun, heads held so high they've got snow on their hair. "Legacy" is a 6 1/2 minute renaissance from Paul Draper's band of karma chameleons, all wide open spaces of cascading guitar, a mile high tune and fantastic grandeur. As glamourous a hymn to the futility of human existence ("nobody cares when you're gone") as you will ever hear, this is The Beatles' Nowhere Man fronting the Manics, singing about the Marquis de Sade and how "all relationships are emptying and temporary". Hardly "Vindaloo" now, is it?

"Can't Afford To Die" is the first extra track, and with its distorted bass and droning guitar, is the first herald of Mansun's claimed rockier new sound. A touch new waveish, it still sounds experimental and out-of-time, like the remastered soundtrack to some movie you saw a long time ago. Next is "Spasm Of Identity", a laid-back almost instrumental shot through with piercing shards of guitar feedback. A close cousin to some of the doodlings Damon and the Blur boys come out with now and again, it is not disposable, but neither is it vital. Last on the 1st CD is "Check Under The Bed", an incendiary track layered with shimmering guitar and a soaring vocal from Paul Draper.

The second CD starts off with a shorter (just) version of "Legacy", then follows with the Perfecto remix of "Wide Open Space". Whilst the original is close to perfection, this Euro-housey version is also mighty fine, pouring molten steel over the original and moulding it into a cybernetic simulation of its former self, then setting its controls for the heart of Ibiza. Next is "GSOH", a rock-pop blast through the personal columns interspersed with (hopefully) dramatised telephone responses to a classified ad. "Must have a good sense of humour and make me laugh, a PO box number and a photograph", screams Draper, before exploding into a million pieces. Last is the instrumental "Face In The Crowd", an epic piece that plays over the end-credits of a fantastic EP. The Sound Of Genius was portrayed by Mansun.

Mansun are named after a Verve song, but make Ashcroft's crew sound positively earthbound in comparison. Higher than the (man)sun.

Rating: 10/10

The Rest

"Always Round Here" by Lodger

Not creating quite such a frisson as "I'm Leaving", "Always Round Here" still shines like a sequinned ballroom dancer from Berlin. Pearl reclines in a nightclub as a Russian choir serenades her, then the track waltzes around the floor, giddy on vodka and cheap cigarettes. Gloriously debauched and sleazily beautiful, the song demonstrates an originality and maverick spirit that others could do worse to copy. The end of the millenium may be nigh, so let's raise a glass to the dying century and get dirty...

"See Me Round" sounds like The Auteurs at the pantomime, all brass stabs and morning-after vocals framing a low-down and out duet. "Many Mistakes" is last, a claustrophobic acoustic number in which Pearl laments about things gone wrong, seemingly inside your head. Which is nice, in a schizophrenic kind of a way.

Superstars for the disaffected, Lodger are vitally vile and gloriously glamourous. Let them stay round your house.

Rating: 9/10

"Bang 2 Rights" by Magicdrive

Blasting outta Edinburgh like the 8.15am to Glasgow Queen Street, pop-punk scamps Magicdrive let loose "Bang 2 Rights" on an unsuspecting public, taking the likes of The Wonder Stuff hostage, forcing them to give up a top tune, then escaping off along Princes Street like Renton at the beginning of Trainspotting. Turn your guitars up to 11 and bounce up and down like an idiot.

"Turn It On" is a baffling cover of a Genesis song, in which Magicdrive don't do nearly enough mischief to the original (it's Genesis guys - destroy the bastard...), then comes "Jabbanobadda", redeeming matters immediately with its surf-punk madness. Rock it from the Cowgate. "Egyptian Eyes" follows up the rear, a Beatles-esque power pop barrage that stomps all over the place like Tutenkhamun on speed.

Unashamedly retro (we haven't heard anything this joyous from the indie scene for about 10 years...Brilliant Corners, The Trudy, Wonder Stuff, Fuzzbox, Man From Delmonte,..."shut up you old fart" - the kids) this still deserves a place in your life. Give it a lollipop and some sherbet and Magicdrive's music will be your friend forever.

Rating: 8/10

"Sunday" by Sonic Youth

Whether UK music lives or dies, there will always be Sonic Youth, purveyors of the finest music to come out of the US of A, yessir. "Sunday" is a thrumming bit of lo-fi that takes up residence in your house, smokes too much dope, grins at you goofily then gets off with your sister. Thurston Moore sounds as unreachably cool as ever, and the rest of the band effortlessly conjure up wonderful sounds of slackness before nodding out in white-hot feedback and distortion. Sonic Youth are even old enough to be my parents, but they sound more exciting and raw than most bands a quarter their age. Cool old bastards.

Next is the parent-friendly "Moist Vagina", penned by a certain Mr Cobain and voiced by a histrionic and vocal-chord popping Kim Gordon. Unsettling listening, it will remind you of everything that was vital about grunge, and scare the cat into the bargain. Then we get "Silver Panties", a four minute drone of guitar noise that sounds like the heart of the planet in distress. Last up an edit of "Sunday", then Sonic Youth are gone, back to the rest home for the effortlessly cool.

Rating: 8/10

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