Split

90'sシューゲイザー界のアイドル(?)、ミキとエマの女性ツイン・ヴォーカルが一世を風靡した名バンド＝ラッシュの名作2ndアルバム（94年発表）。コクトー・ツインズとマイブラの理想的な融合とも言える耽美的な轟音ギター・サウンドとポップなメロディ、そして彼女たちのキュートなヴォーカルのファンは今も絶えない。日本のルミナス・オレンジが絶大な影響を受けたバンドとしても有名。

Alternative Press - "...Sparer and better than SPOOKY, SPLIT still suggests that Lush may be better at producing material for EPs rather than whole albums..." NME - 6 - Good - "...As with most of SPLIT, there are close '60s girl-group harmonies, sometimes from hell, and it's difficult to reconcile the pleasant, often beautiful, music with the scary content..." Rolling Stone - 3.5 Stars - Good - "...dreamlike, beautiful and disturbing...Lush are even more haunting..." Option - "...this album maintains everything likeable about Lush's past work while adding a tad more variation..."

Entire albums spent exploring the depths of the various nasty things surrounding romantic relationships were nothing new by the mid-'90s, but the vaguely cinematic and slightly conceptual Split is something more. Perhaps it's the manner in which each distinctive song manages to melt into the next. Or maybe it's the across-the-board improvements over Spooky. Most knew they were capable of more after the decent but flawed record, but it's doubtful many could have predicted something this thoroughly wonderful and varied. Throughout, Lush sounds confident and downright muscular, as opposed to the feathery wisps of earlier material that could be knocked down with the slightest of breezes. Miki Berenyi's high-heaven vocals have increased range, power, and presence. Chris Acland's drums propel the proceedings more than before, perhaps pushed into better realms by new bassist Phil King. Producer Mike Hedges knows just what to do with the band's elements, adding grace and balance that no other could previously achieve. Kudos as well to a bang-up job by mixmaster Alan Moulder. It's an ardent roller coaster ride, centered around the lengthy mourners "Desire Lines" (oddly a single) and "Never-Never," which clock in at eight minutes apiece. Berenyi effectively conveys the resigned and soul-deadened nature of the lyrics. "Blackout" and "Hypocrite" prove the band's ability to be more assaultive, laying the foundation for their sound on Lovelife. Through breezy pop ("Lit Up"), brief shards of electrocuting dread ("Invisible Man"), and tales of obsessive voyeurism ("Starlust"), Split touches on most forms of emotional turbulence. Not necessarily a comeback but certainly a legitimizing stunner, the record prevented the band from being lost amidst the bunker of form-over-function dream pop bands. Split shattered every negative aspect of those failed acts with flying colors. A fantastic record within any realm. ~ Andy Kellman|