REVIEW: BUSH – “Black And White Rainbows”

Bush is a award winning grunge rock/alternative rock band from London, UK, that creates music of this kind, both before their break up and now in their reformation. From the first note of their music they reach out to your heart, then it’s like a smooth wave that you feel happy to be lost in, to let you take you anywhere it wishes to because you know you will always come back. It is a safe place.

On 10th March 2017, Bush will be releasing their 7th album overall and 3rd since their comeback. The album will be entitled ‘Black and White Rainbows’, via Zuma Rock.

The album begins with the first single “Mad Love” which simultaneously flows soft and crazy, almost as mad love does. Bush fans already know the charm that the vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale can lure you in with. The simplicity with which Bush blend their music, vocals and lyrics has its own unique magic to it that lingers in your head and heart.

As the waves take you to the third track, “Water”, you realize this is not going to go loud to your ears, it’s a whispered, emotional lullaby. The album then moves to “Lost in You”, at which point you have to commend Gavin Rossdale for the control that he has over his voice. It hits just the spot in you that it was intended to and you are lost in the music.

There are little tidbits throughout the album that makes you smile. The album talks about lost love like it’s a sweet thing and there’s nothing to regret. Once it’s lost, you move on with life and enjoy it. Towards the end of “All the Worlds Within You” there is a minute acoustic section which adds a sweet and different touch to it.

Getting to the technical side of the album, the production on the album is excellent, especially with the sound like Bush’s, the fluidity with which this album goes from one song to another without making it seem too obvious makes the album worthy of listening on repeat. Each instrument plays a crucial role in the album and they play around with their role.

The second half begins with “Nurse” and the album becomes more passionate, personal, especially in terms of lyrics. It’s the middle of the album which slowly takes you to “Ravens” in a way which is “Nothing But a Car Chase” with “People at War”. As the name, ‘Black and White Rainbows’, suggests, it talks about the blacks and whites of love (a rainbow). The lyrics on the album are just as much part of the album as the music; one is incomplete without the other.

Trends come and go and the only form of art that stays, the one that passes the test of time, is the one that embodies soul. Amidst the bands that are trying to reach the #1 ranking of whatever charts they follow, there are musicians who simply want to put their heart, their soul, out in their music and this is the music that stays.  ‘Black and White Rainbows’ is a collection of poems with music to them that are full of both heart and soul.