BEATS OF LOVE
184. Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance) (remix) by M|A|R|R|S
IN STILL In a Dream, Simon Reynolds trades his signature fanboy awe for a formulaic blueprint, resulting in a distinct comedown. By recycling old Melody Maker pieces, he inadvertently unmasks these feedback-drenched slackers as conventional, ego-driven rock stars. Ironically, while critiquing his own history with critical theory, his clinical tone reduces a sonic revolution to mere talking points.
Yet, despite this demystification, Reynolds’ initial joy of discovery still flashes through. Many of these acts embody the DIY spirit while simultaneously possessing the transferable skills required for mainstream success, neatly balancing industry conformity with boundary-pushing experimentation.
Ultimately, the book’s saving grace is its chapter on A.R. Kane, a forgotten yet deeply intriguing band. Though their conceptual limits required careful harnessing, the results consistently shattered expectations. They broke the mould, emerging as the product of a conflicting era torn between darker sixties obsessions and the Second Summer of Love and its afterglow.
Reynolds’ vivid insights prompted me to spin this long-neglected, sonic shuffler of a B-side. It fully validated his description of their sound: a pioneering clash of lovers rock and kaleidoscopic, Hendrix-esque guitar. Buy the record before the book.
