Making Music/The Scenic Route to Success :: November 1991

Lush are the cover story on the November 1991 issue of Making Music, "The Scenic Route to Success" by Jon Lewin. The subhead teaser reads:

"[Lush have] been the big noise in the press for about a year now, though their particular bubbles beginning to show signs of deflating."

There goes another faction of the music press, building-up then writing off the band once again.

"They're widely acclaimed as both precursors to and leading lights of The Scene That Celebrates Itself, though their particular combination of intricate vocal harmonies, angry guitars, mobile bass, and adaptable time signatures transcends such a limiting categorisation."

The four Lushes settling down to eat their lunchtime bagels in their Camberwell rehearsal room while preparing for their early October London mini-tour.

Following are some very abbreviated excerpts from the Making Music story concerning the writing and recording for the upcoming LP.

The band currently (early October) are promoting their new Black Spring EP with a mini-tour of London and working on a forthcoming LP, which they've been recording and mixing this Autumn for release in the New year... all that's left now is for producer Robin Guthrie to come back from holiday to finish the mixing.

Although occasional parts may be added in the studio, Lush never write as a foursome, or simply work out new material by jamming. "We can't," says Miki.
"Because were such crap musicians," laughs Emma.

While working with Robin Guthrie on the new LP, Chris wasn't allowed to touch his new Yamaha drum kit. "I hated it, but I'm really pleased with the end results." says Chris. Instead of his own, Chris basically played on a Simmons kit wired up to change the fills, then re-done on Octopads. He says it divides his play into five different processes which for him doesn't seem natural, but the end result sounds like a really good drum kit.

With the new LP, Lush's repetoire is up to 21 songs, 17 of which are played for live shows. Admits Chris "That's the weird thing now, we've got so many songs." Chris also lays claim to be the boss on stage, since he controls the tempos of the songs... and he's prone to speeding up those tempos. "And there's us lot giving him dirty looks, telling him to slow down." Miki says.
"That's because," adds Emma, "we can't bloody play the songs any faster..."

Lush Return to September Sound

What were Lush up to, say... twenty years ago today?

It's August 1991. The band is enjoying a break after touring overseas in the US with Ride and the two European festival gigs. It is well time to now return to the September Sound recording studio and begin laying down some fresh tracks. A new release is needed to support their growing popularity. And so, with the returning talents of producer/engineer Robin Guthrie and engineer Mitsuo Tate, Miki, Emma, Chris and Steve make it happen...

Lush's new song material for the upcoming EP are to be Nothing Natural, God’s Gift, Monochrome, and a cover of the Dennis Wilson song Fallin’ In Love, with a targeted release date for October.

And now, a bit of trivia...

• September Sound Studios is located in Twickenham, England
  
• It is most popularly associated with Robin Guthrie's band, the Cocteau Twins, set up for the purpose to record their own albums
• It has since been closed down
  
• The studio was formerly Pete Townsend's Eel Pie
• And finally, as a rare bonus for you, the reader, I've included this link leading directly to the actual September Sounds loo! - The Seat (as seen on cocteautwins.org)

Excerpt of Nothing Natural
by Emma Anderson

Before I met you I was blind
Pills and liquid filled my mind
Beneath your outline I was new
Overflowing with your tune

And don't you know you're beautiful...