The second album, Joy 1967-1990, was released in 1990. A single taken from the second album, Special One, featured Kim Deal on backing vocals.
The last album, Rev, was released in 1992, and was performed by a band comprising Julian Klepacz (drums) and Jack Daley (bass) with Ralske on vocals and guitar.
Ralske has gone on to do solo work, and has also produced albums for such bands as Rasputina. He currently resides in New York City and is focused on a merging of video visual art and sound. One of his video display installations, MoMA display screens, is on permanent display in the lobby of the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.
Nausea
Ultra Vivid Scene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make small gentle movements
In a silent way
'cause your wonderful and beautiful
And cruel beyond compare
And yet the scent of death is in the air
Is in the air
There's a sadness to your kiss
It's like an ever present bottomless abyss
Yes I feel it now here with you
More here then anywhere
But sadder still, I just don't care
I just don't care
The Ultra Vivid Scene’s song “Nausea” contains lyrics that are soothing yet haunting. It is a song that talks about the bittersweet nature of love, the beauty and the cruelty that come with it. The lyrics say “So here we are and here we stay, you make small gentle movements in a silent way”. This presents the image of a couple who have reached a specific point in their relationship, where they have become comfortable in each other’s company, and can communicate without uttering a word. The actions speak louder than words, and they seem to understand each other perfectly. They are comfortable with each other’s presence, but the atmosphere is heavy, and the scent of death is in the air. It is a symbolic representation of the ending of the relationship, where the couple is together, but the end is near.
The lyrics also talk about the cruelty of love, where the person they are with is beautiful, wonderful, and at the same time cruel. The sadness of the kiss is “like an ever-present bottomless abyss”. This person is someone who is difficult to understand, and yet they have a certain allure that draws the singer to them. They feel the sadness in the relationship, but they just do not care. This presents the idea of a relationship that has reached a point of no return, where it is ending, and they are not bothered by it. The song leaves the listener with a sense of melancholy, recognizing the beautiful moments of love, but also the pain that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
So here we are and here we stay
We are in the present moment and we will remain here together
You make small gentle movements
You move in a subtle and delicate manner
In a silent way
Without making any noise or disturbance
'Cause you're wonderful and beautiful
You possess qualities that inspire wonder and admiration
And cruel beyond compare
You are capable of being exceptionally harsh and ruthless in your actions
And yet the scent of death is in the air
Despite your beauty, there is an ominous feeling of mortality pervading the atmosphere
There's a sadness to your kiss
Your kisses are bittersweet and evoke feelings of sorrow
It's like an ever present bottomless abyss
The sadness seems boundless and unending
Yes I feel it now here with you
I am experiencing this sadness at this very moment with you
More here than anywhere
The intensity of the feeling is stronger here than any other place
But sadder still, I just don't care
Despite feeling the sadness and intensity, I am emotionally detached and do not feel any concern
Contributed by Bailey Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.