How apt to review an album entitled ‘ A Brief History of Love’ ahead of our special edition of Cosmic Dancer that (hopefully) promises to be a LONG night of…err…love.
The Big Pink (good choice of color btw) hail from east London and comprise of members Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell. Furze, who is the musical brain behind the name has toured extensively with Alec Empire in the past and runs record label Hate Channel. Uh.Ah. Alec Empire? I had to google what he is up to these days and to put your good hearts at rest: He is still making ‘digital hardcore’ ! Good. Cordell on the other hand is the son of legendary record producer Denny Cordell (Procol Harum, Joe Cocker) and heads record label Merok, home to Chrystal Castles, The Teenagers and Klaxons. Favorable.
That is probably EXACTLY what came to their minds on that rainy day outside Tesco Express on Kingland Rd. September. 2007. Plastic bags in puddles on the floor, containing dog-eared 7″ records of the latest Comanchi release that they had intended to deliver to Rough Trade that day. Cars passing. They had waited for half an hour, but the 149 bus to Liverpool street was nowhere to be seen but infinite bleak mist surrounding them. Milo amused himself by squelching the tip of his new Converse sneakers in a pool of water in front of him. Four concentric rings. But. A manoeuvre he began to regret instantly as his soles started to soak with water. “There is nothing worse in life than having wet feet” Milo muttered, his head buried deep inside the lined collar of his battered dark blue parka, hands violently thrust in his pockets. Robbie nodded in agreement.
Disengagement of concentric rings -check. Stop shifting records for other people-check. Forming a band-check.
(Note: The name of the band The Big Pink is not inspired by a John Hughes movie but by The Band’s seminal album ‘Music From Big Pink’. )
After three limited edition singles on House of Anxiety The Big Pink were signed to reverred independent label 4AD earlier this year and the rest is history. Of love. Brief? Ok!
Countbackwards from Ten. (Ok) 10. Tonight (Ok) 9. A Brief History of Love (Haunting) 8. Frisk (Agreeable) 7. Golden Pendulum (Good) 6. Velvet (Brilliant) 5. At War With The Sun (Acceptable). 4. Love in Vain ( Charming) 3. Dominos (Spanking) 2. Too Young To Love (Lovely). 1. Crystal Visions (Buzzing).
Begin quote: “Speaking to BBC 6 Music, Milo explained why they chose that album name: “Every song is a love song to some degree, about every different aspect of love.The good, the bad, the boring, the exciting, the dreams, the nightmares, the whole thing and I guess that’s what encompasses the whole album. End quote.
