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)
Undertow
Lush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Run and hide inside your home
Watch you fall away from me
Sinking into misery
Taste your smile and hold my hand
Make you laugh and make you dance
I remember this
Everything was in our kiss
Sink my hands into the sea
Reach your fingers up to me
Trust me one more time
I can only try
Throw yourself to me
And I'll try to pull you free
Let me try to pull you free
Let me try to pull you free
Undertow by Lush is a song about a relationship where one person wants to be alone and the other is desperately trying to hold on. The chorus speaks to the conflict between wanting to give the other person space and wanting to help them through their struggles: "Throw yourself to me, and I'll try to pull you free. Let me try to pull you free."
The song opens with the singer acknowledging their partner's desire to be alone and their own feelings of helplessness: "So you want to be alone, run and hide inside your home. Watch you fall away from me, sinking into misery." Despite this, they want to hold onto the good times they shared: "Taste your smile and hold my hand, make you laugh and make you dance. I remember this, everything was in our kiss."
The second verse continues with the theme of the singer trying to reach their partner and help them through their struggles: "Sink my hands into the sea, reach your fingers up to me. Trust me one more time, I can only try." The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, with the singer pleading to be given a chance to help their partner.
Overall, Undertow is a powerful portrayal of the struggle to hold onto a relationship that is slipping away, and the conflict between giving someone the space they need and being there for them through their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
So you want to be alone
You desire to keep yourself away from the world.
Run and hide inside your home
You want to escape from everything and stay within the safety of your home.
Watch you fall away from me
I see you slowly losing yourself and distancing from me.
Sinking into misery
You are becoming deeply unhappy and spiraling into despair.
Taste your smile and hold my hand
I cherish the moments of happiness we shared and want to hold onto them forever.
Make you laugh and make you dance
I want to bring joy into your life, make you happy and carefree.
I remember this
I cling on to the memories of Us.
Everything was in our kiss
Our kiss epitomized how we felt for each other.
Sink my hands into the sea
I want to immerse myself in this vast universe and the depths of your being.
Reach your fingers up to me
I want you to make an effort towards me and extend your hand for help.
Trust me one more time
Believe in me once again and have faith that I can help you.
I can only try
I can only give my best and hope that it is enough.
Throw yourself to me
Take a risk and jump into my embrace, giving yourself wholly and completely.
And I'll try to pull you free
I promise to do everything in my power to liberate you from your pain and turmoil.
Let me try to pull you free
Please let me help you and attempt to alleviate your suffering.
Let me try to pull you free
I implore you to give me a chance to rescue you from your misery.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Isaac Edward Slade, James David Washington, Joseph King, Timothy Z. Mosley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
granouze
Lush... One of my favorite (there is also an Undertow from Suzanne Vega and one from Warpaint, they're good, but I got a sweet tooth for this lush one).
granouze
Mais il y a aussi une chanson homonyme qui arrive ex-equo, tout aussi lush: Untogether de Belly (I mainly talk with myself, but who doesn't?)