I Fear

The Vivians, “I Fear” (Ice Age/Hit & Run, 1991)
In the wake of this lost Cleveland noise-rock/post-punk classic, guitarist Michelle Temple joined Pere Ubu, and you can see why Thomas, Ravenstine et al were impressed. This is one of the few bands that seemed to understand profoundly the way early Ubu turned Stooges-derived pummeling riff-repetition into dark, looming Rust Belt art-punk epics. Singer/guitarist/clarinetist Diane Duncan and Temple weave gnarled, metallic yet elegant spiderwebs of echo and screech, and the rhythm section drives the sound to the end of the night. But there’s also a side to the Vivians that draws on another Ohio legend, Chrissie Hynde, for a melancholy melodicism and woman-alone-against-the-cold-lake-wind sensibility that makes this truly haunting. A great record by a tragically neglected band.
Try 1/ 2, 2/ 3
11/10/16