Date:    Mon, 29 Sep 1997 14:08:27 -0700
From:    Michael Scholtz <mscholtz@GGFCM.COM>
Subject: MBV (non 4ad)

Joseph wrote:

>>Strawberry Wine can be found on MBV's "Ecstasy & Wine" lp [Lazy
Records1987].  I hear that this album is a combination of their 'Sunny
Sunday Smile' ep and one other arly ep... The album is very much in the
vein of 'Strawberry Wine' - strung out jangly pop MBV style.... Sorta like
Isn't anything with more jangle and less white noise.  MBV has one other
record before 'Ecstasy and Wine' called "This is Your Bloody Valentine",
but technically it should't be called a MBV record. ...

well, actually ...

i'm sure one of my fellow obsessives will correct me if i'm wrong, but i
believe that 'ecstasy & wine' is a reissue combining the 'ecstasy' mlp and
the 'strawberry wine' 12".  as joseph indicates, the sound of the record
is more jangly than on later mbv recordings, but still heaped with
distortion.  shields has claimed that the uniquely abrasive sound of these
recordings was realized by overdriving the amps and tweaking the treble
frequencies *without* feedback, but my ears say otherwise.
(incidentally, whoever did the cd mastering equalized much of the high
end out of existence, which really subtracted from the energy level;  buy
the l.p. if you can find it.)  in any event, mbv's distinctive 'glide guitar'
does not appear on these recordings.  the secret strength of these discs
is in the songwriting, which is just fantastic from start to finish.  these
records were the only releases on the lazy lable other than those of its
owners, the primitives.

'ecstasy' and 'wine'  were preceded by 'sunny sundae smile' and 'the
new record by my bloody valentine', both vinyl-only e.p.s.  the music on
the latter is still underdeveloped but resembles 'ecstasy' far more than
the wretched "this is ....", although the  vocals are nasal and way out of
tune, a major drawback.  some enterprising soul issued a bootleg 7" of
'new record' a few years back, so it may still be accessible to the
curious.

as for "this is...", it was reissued on cd with the band's tacit consent.
they all think it's garbage, but agreed it was better to permit a mid-price
reissue to satisfy fan curiosity,  than to fight to keep it off the market and
foster some sort of baseless mystique.

mike