The name, The Raveonettes, is a direct reference to The Ronettes, and Buddy Holly's song Rave On!.
Their songs juxtapose the structural and chordal simplicity of 50s and 60s rock with intense electric instrumentation, driving beats and often dark lyrical content, similar to another of the band's influences, The Velvet Underground. Altogether, they sound very much like a slightly more melodic version of The Jesus and Mary Chain.
http://www.theraveonettes.com
On April 4th, 2011, they released "Raven in the Grave", a nine-track studio album with Vice Records. It's their 5th studio album.
From their site bio:
“I think we have finally hit on something quite important and different for this album,” explains Sune. “This is the first Raveonettes album we've done which doesn't feature the signature Raveonettes surf drumbeat. None of the tunes have any real sunshine to them. It’s all very un-Rave.”
“It has a mood of ethereal defiance” Sharin adds. “It’s dark but not bleak, like the single minded determination caused by crisis that is not quite hope but just as powerful. It’s the perfect winter soundtrack just in time for spring”.
Experiment in Black
The Raveonettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Experiment in black
You stumble upon yourself
You never gave it to much thought
The invasion comes
The invasion comes
Exploding beat
Sitting here waiting for death
Experiment in black
You're never coming back
You're never coming back
You're never coming back
Walk around looking for death
Walk around looking for death
The invasion comes
The invasion comes
Experiment in black
Exploding beat
Exploding beat
The lyrics to The Raveonettes’song Experiment in Black convey a sense of desperation and inevitability. The repeating lyrics “experiment in black” suggest a kind of self-destructive behavior or mindset that the singer may have engaged in. This behavior may have led to their downfall, as they seem resigned to the idea that they are “never coming back.” The “invasion” that is mentioned could be interpreted as a metaphor for that destructive tendency taking over their life, while the “exploding beat” could represent the intensity of their emotions and the chaos that results.
The repetition of certain lyrics and phrases in this song serve to emphasize the singer’s sense of helplessness and the inevitability of their situation. Lines like “you’re never coming back” and “the invasion comes” are repeated throughout the song, driving home the idea that the singer is stuck in a pattern of self-destruction with no way out. The line “walk around looking for death” is particularly powerful, suggesting that the singer has given up on any hope for the future and is simply waiting for their inevitable end.
Overall, Experiment in Black is a haunting and powerful song that speaks to the human tendency towards self-destruction and the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of negative behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Experiment in black
The singer is engaging in a dark and possibly dangerous experiment.
Experiment in black
This line is repeated, emphasizing the importance of the experiment and how the singer is fully committed to it.
You stumble upon yourself
The experiment has caused the singer to confront or discover something within themselves that they didn't previously know or acknowledge.
You never gave it to much thought
The artist didn't fully consider the consequences of the experiment before engaging in it.
The invasion comes
Something disruptive and potentially harmful is on its way, possibly a result of the experiment.
The invasion comes
This line is repeated, further emphasizing the impending doom or chaos.
Exploding beat
The eerie and intense music helps set the tone for the darker themes and emotions present in the song.
Exploding beat
This line is repeated, suggesting that the music itself is a crucial aspect of the experimental process.
Sitting here waiting for death
The artist is feeling hopeless and resigned to a potentially deadly outcome.
You're never coming back
The artist is acknowledging that the experiment has caused irreversible changes or consequences.
You're never coming back
This line is repeated, underscoring the finality and permanence of the situation.
Walk around looking for death
The artist is actively seeking or attracting negative outcomes, feeling unafraid or apathetic about the potential consequences.
The invasion comes
This line is repeated again, indicating that the danger or chaos is building and coming closer.
The invasion comes
This final repetition of the line creates a sense of urgency or panic, suggesting that the danger has become imminent.
Contributed by Hudson G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mark St. John
Badass, good old Raveonette sound from the noisy days