Released: 2013

Genres: Shoegaze, Dream Pop, Noise Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Ambient Pop, Space Rock Revival

The Musiquarium’s m b v Review Score: 10 out of 10

22 long years after loveless, my bloody valentine finally gave fans some new music with m b v, an album every bit as flawless and obsessed-over as its predecessor.

The ethereal opener she found out makes it sound like no time has passed at all since 1991, but like the songs on that album, is still hard to pinpoint exactly when the song is from — it can be from the past, present or future, and that’s only a part of the brilliance of my bloody valentine’s music. only tomorrow and who sees you carry a similar musical shade as the first track, with a balancing of both beauty and pain, a combination that few bands have mastered. is this and yes is a mostly instrumental song, with spacey organs and starry chimes.

new you is probably the closest thing to a single here, with its optimistic guitar phrasing and typically pretty, calming vocals of Bilinda Butcher. nothing is has almost no variation in its three-and-a-half minute runtime, but the slowly-building tension is what makes it so fascinating. wonder 2 sounds as if the guitars are processed through the turbines of a commercial jet plane, and gives soon a run for its money for the band’s best closing track.

m b v is a serene dream of an album from start to finish. Go put on some nice headphones, crank up the volume and let yourself be carried away on the wings of sonic ecstasy for 46 minutes. It may have taken two decades, but it’s here now to enjoy forever.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view my bloody valentine on Discogs.

Back to the 2013 Album Guide or the my bloody valentine Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard