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1993, Q
The Portsmouth brother and sister outfit have, since 1988, produced work of profound gloom and despond which found great favour among those who found Joy Division just too damned bubblegum. Forever seems lighter of touch, if not entirely bereft of the dark, the dramatic, the brooding. The crisp song titles-Cloudless, Clear, Sun And Sky-suggest the upbeat, the optimistic, the relaxed. As indeed may the lyrics, but Alison Shaw again runs away with this year's Michael Stipe award for incomprehensibility in the words department. Communication is further hindered by Shaw singing at a pitch high enough to alert most of the dogs on the South coast. Oddly, however, combined with the monotone, feed-back frenzy guitar accompaniment, her meaningless wailing produces an unnervingly mesmerising effect. And after half a dozen plays, the tunes suddenly emerge as hummable. Singing along might take a little longer.
Star Rating: (3 out of 5)
Reviewed by Jim White
© Q 1993
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