Anderson and Berenyi had been friends since the early 1980s, and published the Alphabet Soup fanzine together. In 1986 Anderson joined The Rover Girls as bassist and Berenyi joined The Bugs as guitarist but neither band lasted long.
Lush formed in 1987, initially named The Baby Machines, with a line-up of Meriel Barham (vocals), Emma Anderson (guitar), Miki Berenyi (guitar), Steve Rippon (bass), and Chris Acland (drums). After Rippon joined, the band members decided on a change of name to Lush, making their live debut at the Camden Falcon on 6 March 1988. Barham was fired, with the rest of the band deciding she lacked commitment (she later joined Pale Saints). Anderson and Berenyi then took on lead vocal duties.
Lush gained recognition when Robin Guthrie helped the band sign to 4AD. The band's first release was Scar, an EP, in 1989. Critical praise for Scar and a wildly popular live show established Lush as one of the best-selling alternative bands of the period. That year the EPs Mad Love, produced by Robin Guthrie, and Sweetness and Light, produced by Tim Friese-Greene of Talk Talk fame, followed.
In 1990 the compilation Gala, which combined the material from the first three EPs, was released by Reprise in the United States, this being the first exposure of Lush in North America.
Lush's first full-length album of completely new material was Spooky in 1992. Produced by Robin Guthrie, Spooky featured a sound very similar to Guthrie's band Cocteau Twins, with walls of sound and a great deal of flange. Reviews were mixed and critics of the album hold that Guthrie's production brought the sound away from the band's original creative vision. Bassist Steve Rippon left the band at this stage in order to concentrate on writing, though his book Cold Turkey Sandwich - a fictionalized chronicle of his time in touring - was rejected by publishers. He was replaced by Phil King. Also in 1992, Lush toured America as part of the Lollapalooza festival.
The band's second studio album Split was released in 1994 and featured a harsher sound alternated with long and softer tracks as "Desire Lines" and "Never-Never". Despite critical praise, the album sold poorly.
After adapting to the newly popular sounds of the Britpop era, Lush's 1996 Lovelife became the biggest seller of their career, including the hit singles "Ladykillers", "500" and "Single Girl", which was released in several different versions with different tracks along with the title track. Also on this album, Jarvis Cocker from Pulp contributed guest vocals to "Ciao!" and the record included the now classic/melancholic favorite "Last Night".
In 1996, drummer Chris Acland committed suicide by hanging, at his parents' house, allegedly due to depression. The situation proved too hard for the band, and in 23 February 1998 the three remaining members of Lush decided to disband.
Emma Anderson has since formed a new band, Sing-Sing, who have released two full-length albums to date.
On September 28th 2015 Lush announced their reunion. The reunited band consists of Anderson, Berenyi & King with the addition of Justin Welch on drums, an old friend of Acland.
Lush discography:
Scar EP (1989)
Mad Love EP (1990)
Sweetness and Light EP (1990)
Gala compliation of the above EPs (1990)
Spooky (1992)
Split (1994)
Lovelife (1996)
Invisible Man
Lush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Outside you are waiting for me, hiding
You catch me when I am
Needing a friend to hold
You can soothe me, lie above me
Then you strike
And I think that I'll die
'Cause I can't breathe, can't breathe
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
Oh
Please let me start screaming
Eyes are open seeing nothing
Hands are tied and I can't function
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
The lyrics to Lush's song The Invisible Man are a portrayal of the feeling of helplessness that one experiences when confronted with an abusive or manipulative individual. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the presence of this abusive individual (represented by the line 'Outside you are waiting for me, hiding'), who can catch her when she is vulnerable and in need of support ('You catch me when I am needing a friend to hold'). However, this person is also capable of inflicting pain and trauma on her ('Then you strike / And I think that I'll die / 'Cause I can't breathe, can't breathe').
The chorus of the song is where the singer asks to be liberated from this situation and expresses her desire to scream for help ('Please let me start screaming'). However, she is unable to do so as she feels completely powerless and trapped ('Eyes are open seeing nothing / Hands are tied and I can't function'). The repetition of the line 'Please let me start screaming' signifies the urgency and desperation of the singer's situation.
The song beautifully captures the psychological turmoil of being in an abusive relationship, where the victim is often manipulated into feeling trapped and vulnerable. The lyrics and accompanying music create a haunting and poignant image of the invisible pain and suffering that often goes unnoticed in such situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
The song begins with a sound of exclamation.
Outside you are waiting for me, hiding
There is something dangerous lurking outside that is trying to harm the singer, but it is not visible to her.
You catch me when I am
Needing a friend to hold
The invisible danger preys on the singer when she is vulnerable and needs someone to comfort her.
You can soothe me, lie above me
Press hard
The danger has the ability to make her feel calm but also has a suffocating presence that is almost inescapable.
Then you strike
And I think that I'll die
'Cause I can't breathe, can't breathe
The danger becomes aggressive and violent, causing the singer to feel like she's going to die and can't breathe.
Please let me start screaming
The singer desperately wants to scream for help, but is unable to do so.
Please let me start screaming
Eyes are open seeing nothing
Hands are tied and I can't function
The singer feels trapped and helpless and is unable to see or do anything to escape the danger.
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
Please let me start screaming
The singer repeatedly begs for help or for the ability to scream, emphasizing her desperation and fear.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EMMA VICTORIA JANE ANDERSON, Emma Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind