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)
Monochrome
Lush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's going on, when you're gone
Fall asleep when you're near
What's going on, when you're here
And sometimes I think if I stand by the phone it may ring
And sometimes I worry and fear what tomorrow may bring
And you sing
Breathe with your sigh
Makes me high, don't know why
Touching your skin
Wishing you were within
Your eyes are like saucers but mine are just clouded in gray
I've so much to tell but I can't and you just go away
Anyway
Won't you stay
Wake with the sun
What's going on, when you're gone
And when I lost control
I was cold, and I felt old
The ground is beneath me but slowly it's falling away
You say we're like children so why won't you come out and play?
And sometimes I think if I look at the phone it may ring
And sometimes I worry and fear what tomorrow may bring
When you sing
When you sing
The song "Monochrome" by Lush is a dreamy and introspective piece that delves into the complexities of a relationship that is defined by emotional distance and uncertainty. On the surface, the lyrics appear to be about the longing for a loved one who is physically distant, but they also reveal a deeper sense of emotional distance and confusion. The opening lines, "Wake with the sun, what's going on, when you're gone/Fall asleep when you're near, what's going on, when you're here" suggest that the singer is struggling to understand the conflicting emotions they feel when they are with or without this person.
Throughout the song, the singer describes their longing for this person and their anxiety about the future, wondering if they will ever be truly happy together. At times, they seem hopeful, as when they say "sometimes I think if I stand by the phone it may ring," but this hope is tempered by their fears and doubts, as when they worry "what tomorrow may bring." The chorus, "And you sing/And you sing," is both a reminder of the person's enchanting presence and a plea for them to stay and continue to sing their song.
The lyrics also reveal a sense of sadness and resignation, as when the singer says "I've so much to tell but I can't and you just go away" and "And when I lost control, I was cold, and I felt old." These moments suggest that the singer feels trapped in their own emotional uncertainty and unable to connect with the person they long for. The final lines of the song, "When you sing/When you sing," leave the listener with a sense of unresolved longing, a question mark hanging over the relationship and the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake with the sun
I wake up early with the sun every day
What's going on, when you're gone
I wonder what you're doing when you're not with me
Fall asleep when you're near
Being near you makes me feel safe and secure enough to sleep
What's going on, when you're here
I'm constantly trying to figure out the meaning behind your actions when you're around
And sometimes I think if I stand by the phone it may ring
I have a feeling that you might call me if I just stay by the phone
And sometimes I worry and fear what tomorrow may bring
I'm scared of what the future might hold for us and what changes might come
And you sing
Your singing provides me with comfort and happiness
Breathe with your sigh
I inhale deeply when you let out a sign because it makes me feel alive
Makes me high, don't know why
Being with you elevates my mood but I don't know why
Touching your skin
I love the way your skin feels and I want to touch it all the time
Wishing you were within
I wish that you could be with me always
Your eyes are like saucers but mine are just clouded in gray
Your eyes are so wide and beautiful, but mine are dull and sad
I've so much to tell but I can't and you just go away
I have so many things to say to you, but you leave before I can share them
Anyway
Despite everything, I still wish you would stay with me
Won't you stay
Please stay with me, even if it's just for a little while longer
And when I lost control
There was a moment where I felt like I lost all control
I was cold, and I felt old
During that moment, I felt emotionless and old beyond my years
The ground is beneath me but slowly it's falling away
I feel like everything around me is falling apart, even though the ground is physically still beneath me
You say we're like children so why won't you come out and play?
You compare our relationship to that of children, but you won't spend time with me and have fun like children do
And sometimes I think if I look at the phone it may ring
I still have a glimmer of hope that you might call me and things will get better
When you sing
Your singing is a reminder that things can still be good and that there's hope for us
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Emma Victoria Jane Anderson, EMMA ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind