MP3: 1999 - Beauty is the winner
I've been obsessing a bit about goth music lately, it's true. The world is going through dark times and that demands dark music. It has been awhile since I heard from 1999. They released a single on Release the Bats! a few years ago and posted a few other tracks on their website, but after that... nilch. I even attempted to email them about appearing on my latest "Reader's companion" comp, but got no reply. So when stumbled across Celebrity Lifestyle Records (named after the Swans song), the new label that released their full-length debut, naturally I was excited. Luckily CLR was more open to communication and before too long I had a copy of the CD in-hand. Let me tell you: this is the shit. It's borrows heavily from the past (Joy Division, Bauhaus, yadda yadda), but also incorporates more noise and Krautrock influences. Deceptively simple and hypnotic, cyclic riffs, dancefloor-friendly beats and sloganeering vocals - not quite to the level of, say Nitzer Ebb, but definitely leaning in that direction. Like a rawer, more primal version of Boys of Scandinavia. The particular track I've posted today is the album's opener. Deceptively simple and driving. I love how the guitar just turns into a wash of noise with barely any distinguishable attack. The cavernous tone provides the right balance of melody and noise while letting the drums and bass carry the song. Simplicity is key. Beauty is the winner, indeed.
1999 - Beauty is the winner