ULRIKA SPACEK – Modern English Decoration (Repress) – LP – Black Vinyl [NOV 28]

LP – Standard Edition Black Vinyl (Repress).

Unsurprisingly given the context of its creation, Modern English Decoration might be considered a companion piece of sorts to The Album Paranoia. But there are crucial differences. Most notably, this isnt the work of the Ulrika Spacek conceptualised by Edwards and Williams in Berlin Modern English Decoration is the band as five rather than two people, and it shows. Those who have witnessed the intensity of their live show will instantly recognise the merits in this. The bass and drums provide a versatile anchor, at once soft, then aggressive, while the vocals drift woozily in and out, like druggy hindsight or skewed premonition. With three guitarists in the band guitars were always going to be central to the music, but what is less expected is the dynamic interplay between the trio that suggests a three-headed version of the Verlaine-Lloyd axis at the heart of Television. Whats more, the absence of reverb is integral, in part attributable to the ambience of the studio, but also a conscious decision in order to add focus. And focus is the abiding term: this is an album designed to be just so – a 45 minute commitment, a surrender.

RIYL: Mercury Rev, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Radiohead, Deerhunter, Atlas Sound, Stereolab.

Tracklist:

A1 Mimi Pretend
A2 Silvertonic
A3 Dead Museum
A4 Ziggy
A5 Everything, All The Time

B1 Modern English Decoration
B2 Full Of Men
B3 Saw A Habit Forming
B4 Victorian Acid
B5 Protestant Work Slump