Melody Maker, March 7, 1987
Vinyl Solution
Maggie
Fuzzbox
Marc Almond: Catch a Falling Star
We've had the central heating mended this morning but I didn't half have
to pay the price; the man kept going on and on about Austrailia Yes, there
are some Marc Almond ones... put down anything sung by him, really. Your
favorite records change every day, after all. This is the one I'm playing
over and over at the moment. It's all passion. He's wonderful. Ace. The
violins are wondrous.
Soft Cell: Loving You Hating Me
Again, mmm. No, I don't really relate to any sort of love-hate thing, no.
It's just the voice. Goregous.
Prince: Purple Rain
Both the song and the album. He puts himself into it. Like Marc Almond, it
comes from his soul and not his brain. Pure sexuality; it's like listening
to sex, isn't it? Well, yes, they could be seen as egocentric. Well, no,
that doesn't put me off, because they are good. It's when people
think they're it and they're not that it's embarrassing or
stupid. If you are good then it's not wrong, is it? Erm... yes,
I'm sure I'm right there.
The The: Soul Mining
a FAVOURITE for years. One for sitting in the dark and thinking about
life and stuff. Boys? Boys are more stuff than life, aren't they?
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 5
I used to play the piano... this is excellence in genius. Perfection of
expression in the musical medium. Like listening to someone's whole life.
Classical music doesn't dictate to you, it gives you freedom of thought
and you can take what you want from it.
Mozart: The Magic Flute
Most of us are mediocrities like Salieri, that's why we can appreciate
genius. those of us who can't generally have inflated egos. Of course I'm
mediocre in compaison to Mozart or Beethoven! Anyway "The Magic Flute" is
better if you don't read what it's about first. Like when they make a
film of a book, there's always something wrong. It's better to go
into these things with a liberated brain. These are my genuine words of
wisdom you're getting here.
This Mortal Coil: Song Of The Siren
Because Lizzy Wizzy's voice is
lovely. Oh, she won't like me calling her that, will she? Oh... will she? I
met Robin at a Felt gig once and he gave me some of his beer because I had
hiccups. It didn't cure them.
The Smiths: How Soon Is Now?
I like this one but I don't generally understand his words. Doesn't he
just go "ner ner ner ner ner" usually? i don't think people listen to
lyrics as much as is made out. The ones I write? Sad? Only sometimes.
Duran Duran: The Chauffeur
You'll hate this... yeah. Another one for daydreaming with the lights
out. I did think it was uncool but I liked it despite denying it
persistently. Anyone who gets out of Birmingham must have done something
right. If I ever emigrated, I'd go to Amsterdam, it's freer there.
Bizet: Carmen
The definitive music for red and black and violent emotions. The
masterpiece of that.
Prokoviev: Romeo and Juliet
There's one bit which is the most powerful thing I've ever heard. The
story's good, yes, it's more than Shakespeare if you know what I mean.
Again, though, the music's better if you don't read anything relating to
it first.
Marvin Gaye: Sexual Healing
You only hav eto listen to it, don't you? Oh! Did you hear that? Someone
just came onto the line and said "This is true." Wasn't it you? Strange
indeed. A disembodied voice! Perhaps it was Marvin Gaye...