Seagull Strange: 'Love's Sick Disease'

Before passing judgement on this record I am going to make a confession. Yes, a real, profound, confession. My favourite record of all time is 'Loveless' by My Bloody Valentine, a record that I discovered in my teens at least a decade after it had originally been released. What is the relevance, I hear you cry, you are surely some kind of egotistical prick and finally, what is the connection to 'Love's Sick Disease'? All good questions.

There is a deep sense of existential alienation at the root of 'Love's Sick Disease' that reminded me of the films of Herzog and Bergman, when both were angry young filmmaking muthafuckas. This may be incidental to some, but to me it signifies the fact that this is a band who mean it . When Dan Telling sings "Waiting here for love's sick disease. And if you could change? What would you change for a sweet memory."
to the strains of maudlin percussion, before launching into the eponymous chorus, it has such striking virtue that this humble reviewer was left horizontal clasping for his Joy Division records. The self destructive, intoxicating and, let's be honest here, dangerous beast that falling in love is, is purely conveyed in a form that I have not witnessed for some time.

'Loveless' posed questions about identity and relationships in a sonic whirl of nihilism and indifference. 'Love's Sick Disease' is a latter day companion piece. Utterly unpretentious, and seething with self-loathing, this is indispensable.

Released 1st October 2007 by Shifty Disco Records.

Written by James Howard.