SINGLE: The Big Pink – Velvet
This track so nearly passed me by. I don’t listen to the radio much, I barely watch TV (which ignoring The World Service both so rarely broadcast something of interest), but luckily the night staff at my day job left a music channel running and I happened upon Velvet.
You may already know the arrogant brag of previous single Dominos, a song that glories in splintering hearts. But where Dominos enjoys leaving a trail of human detritus, keeping warmth and love at arms length, Velvet uses those same arms to draw you back in to a wholehearted embrace.
It’s intimate and sentimental in a vague way, but also massive in galactic proportions. Processed beats mislead, and give way to a wave of fuzz that owes more to The Jesus and Mary Chain than to My Bloody Valentine.
It’s a perfectly poised and weighted single of unflinching honesty and brilliance, and the best release to come out of anywhere this side of the new decade. And to think it nearly got buried in my colossal CD collection. Phew!
Release Date 15/02/2010 (4AD)
