Cutting edge of Lush (Scar - Lush)

Member Name: raypdaley182

Product:	Scar - Lush
Date:	09/05/09 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great vocals & guitars

Disadvantages: Most tracks available on Gala

All of the tracks from this EP ended up on the Gala album so if you already own that then you would only really be buying this to own a complete Lush back catalogue. Lush have their own very unique sound which fills a broad audio spectrum and comprises of guitars played with bags of phase effects, deep breathy female vocals with an almost sirenlike quality, understated drums and very complimentary bass lines.

So who are Lush? I like to think of them as The Awesome Foursome with Miki Berenyi & Emma Anderson guiding vocals and guitars, Chris Acland who providing the great drums and Phil King stringing it all together on the bass.
So whats on Scar?

1 - Baby Talk.
Lead by bass its a pretty angry track that is more punk in its origins than Lush normally offer. This is clearly from Lush's angry period, more what you'd call an "Anti tune" and quite short too.

2 - Thought Forms.
Much more of a typical Lush track with the layered vocals and guitars (jangly effects a must of course but actually understated enough to allow vocals to be quite crisp here). Its rather surprising that this was never released as a single as it has an exceptionally commercial sound and could stand alongside tracks like "Dark Therapy" by Echobelly or "6 Underground" by The Sneaker Pimps which are of a very similar sonic genre.

3 - Scarlet.
More like the Lush I am used to, guitars cranked up to the point where the vocals are only just audible. Its not overly unfair to describe Emma & Miki's vocals as "sirenlike" as if their lilting angelic tones couldn't lure you to your death then you don't have an ounce of emotion in your soul.

4 - Bitter.
Another fairly angry song in terms of music but its not super loud or in your face, its very much the girls saying "Yes, I'm pretty bloody annoyed but you have no clue whats coming next or how bad it might get". Scary but in a cool way.

5 - Second Sight.
Strains of goth meets Echo & The Bunnymen in this I think. It's almost like "The Cutter" meets "Severina" (by The Mission) with strains of old 80's Psychobilly (think very strong Stray Cats stuff) but right on the edge of post punk too.

6 - Etherial.
If you aren't thinking of "Waterfall" by The Happy Mondays in the opening 3 notes then you haven't got much of an ear for music. This could have easily been released alongside bands like The Mock Turtles or The Stone Roses and would have held its own during the "Madchester" or "Baggy" period in the early 90's. Again this is exceptionally commercial and I think would sell easily if it were released today. Its a tightly crafted guitar line reigned in with great drums with the vocals allowed to roam freely across the whole track.

Its still a great EP or 12 inch, whatever you want to call it. Its a good if brief collection from Lush thats as good now as when it was released.

(This review also appears on ciao)

Summary: Lush make another great release