Ultra Vivid Scene [Import]

Ultra Vivid Scene | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 4, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: 4ad
• ASIN: B0000251KU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,645 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars essential, May 30, 2001

By 

ckdexterhaven (toronto canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultra Vivid Scene (Audio CD)

The only one of UVS' three albums to receive, as far as I know, no attention whatsoever. But one of the most interesting, unusual, and marvellous albums of the late eighties. Unlike anything else being done at the time or since. Painfully overlooked and underappreciated. The sound is an utterly unique collage of styles, but the influence of noise rock (velvet underground, jesus and mary chain)and arty synth-rock (joy division, early new order)is certainly there. If UVS weren't completely forgotten in the music world, I'd be tempted to insist that they strongly influenced later groups. Yo La Tengo, especially in their marvellous album "Painful", often seem to be channelling UVS, and I find it impossible to believe that Spiritualized's "Ladies and Gentlemen we are floating in space" wasn't extracted directly from the third UVS album "Rev". Of the three albums, this one is the least refined, least poppy, and the most innovative and interesting. This forgotten album definitely deserves a second chance.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a gentle, post-velvets masterpiece: forgotten/genius?, August 7, 2000

By 

guy nicholas low (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultra Vivid Scene (Audio CD)

I first heard "Mercy Seat" in 1989 on a long since forgotten British Indie rock TV show called SNUB TV. I was 16 and cleaning my High School canteen after the bell rang to make some under age beer money. Fortunately about 8 quid was sacrificed on Ultra Vivid Scene, by the same. A sublime, sunny place occurred thereafter, which I am revisiting now - having found the tape in a shoebox exactly 10 years after this gem was made (with excellent early-Pixies era warped 4ad Vaughn Oliver design) and consequently have found myself with a somewhat ambiguous hat atop my critical noggin. My offering in support of this masterpice admits nostalgia: Mine at finding the tape and being well versed in its constructive influence (Lou Reed meets a sunday morning with no smack but lots of sugar and sympathetic, strong women) and that of Kurt Ralske's coy fetish/cliche Fender Twin-Mongery. Fact is I can't call this miserable or contrived for searing bedroom contemplations - this is not The Smiths's ultimate happy/sad handbag of dark glee and going-home-on-my-own-misery. UVS is the venerable I'm not a John on the Bowery but that grit still dreams so flowery... Selfish, beautiful music - no anthems outside of the listener's application of the urban, lonely charm of the songs. It is a classic record - very NYC, remarkably non-80's (dissonance and texture figuring highly in what could have easily been bouncy pop tunes) If you enjoy quality songwriting on par with Lou Reed's sometime Brill Building sensibility spliced over a little irritation of post-punk self obsession, here it is. Like I said, it's as good as the day I bought it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twisted and Beautiful, February 27, 2003

By 

mike jones (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultra Vivid Scene (Audio CD)

The first of three gems. Perhaps sounds a little dated initially (clockwork drums) but it soon draws you into a oddly warm, decadent, perverse world. There's nothing here which is going to frighten the horses, but boy, it works. Understated, slightly lisping vocals, lyrically dark, excellent guitar work, perfectly constructed songs. Give that man a knighthood for services to indie.