An Offbeat by CFUV review
Graphic courtesy of CFUV.
For the Martlet’s Sex & Gender issue, I have chosen to review three songs that approach sex and love with unique angles. These songs, in alignment with my music taste, are eclectic and story-driven.
“His Hands” – Blegh
The first song on my list is “His Hands” by Blegh, a song filled with delirious yearning, made more potent by repeating lyrics and the many musical stages the song travels through.
The lyrics focus on the overwhelming sensation of crushing on someone, rather than the object of affection — the mysterious “he” who has no physical description — themself. The song highlights moments of perceived connection, despite the suggestion that both parties are involved with other people.
“His Hands” starts with the mention of a party, and progresses to moments of “prolonged eye contact in casual conversation” and “foggy windows,” where the singer’s desire for the subject grows and grows. There are hints throughout the song that the singer’s feelings may be reciprocated, but for the most part it is a song about, as the chorus lines say, “Being unwanted / And wanting too much / Feeding the idea of you / Leaving you starving.”
The whole song is highly evocative, and feels a bit like stumbling around in a daze. It is a great song for complicated character playlists, or when you need a bit of unrequited pining.
“A Formidable Marinade” – Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen
If you’re someone who, like me, thinks that cannibalism in fictional media can have erotic undertones (think vampire media), or enjoy a bit of taboo, then “A Formidable Marinade” by Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen may be for you!
“A Formidable Marinade” sounds like it should be played in a smoky, dim room. Mikelangelo’s baritone, combined with the sounds of accordion, violin, and clarinet, makes for an excellent and sometimes intentionally off-putting mix. The band leans into shrill and sometimes squealing sounds that grate on the ear. Combined with the visceral nature of the lyrics, the song can be felt as well as heard.
“A Formidable Marinade” takes the desire to become one with someone (for example, through marriage or sex) to the furthest extremes of animalistic, ravenous lust. The desire to fight, consume, or become one seems to stems from a desire to copulate or destroy, as summed up in the chorus: “I’ll feast on your body if you’ll feast on mine / Blood is thicker and redder than wine / Lay ourselves out upon the table / Ravish each other till we’re no longer able / When juices mix in the heat of the fray / It will make a formidable marinade.”
The chorus is both inherently about sex, and also about feasting and food, making them one and the same. Of the three songs I have chosen to talk about, this one is certainly the most fun, provided you don’t take it too seriously.
“Fair” – The Amazing Devil
Unlike the other two songs, “Fair” by The Amazing Devil is sweet and romantic. Though still a little strange and melancholic, it is a song about seeing love in the simple yet intimate moments of a long-term romantic partnership, and being surprised at how strong that love still is. The Amazing Devil is a band made up of Joey Batey and Madeleine Hyland, with Batey as the track’s main vocalist. He sings quietly, his voice cracking at times, and is backed by gentle instrumentals, giving the song its melancholic feel.
The lyricism is sweet, but also at times funny, noting how one partner has “so much fucking hair” and “You don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not / Cos it’s not like I’ve never heard you fart and snore,” showing a real closeness between the parties. References to the less appealing parts of closeness show that the song’s partners aren’t hiding parts of themselves from one another. The song even includes a “that’s what she said” joke, which I love; it feels relatable to my own experience, cracking jokes and being a little bit annoying with my partner, my friends, and my family, which is one of the ways I express that I love them, and they love me in return.
Of the three songs I have chosen, “Fair” is the most likely to make you cry, but it’s perhaps the least visually evocative of the three. Still, it’s a beautiful song, and I do hope you choose to give it a listen.
