Whilst wailing at the Wall Of Sound, a quick look around will lead you to Bernard Butler, former guitarist for Suede who probably wishes that people would stop calling him that. After leaving that Britpop mach II cornerstone in a huff, he teamed up with the extreme and extraordinary David McAlmont and concocted the ultimate kiss off in "Yes".
"Yes" utilizes the wall of sound as a defense: it's so dense that nothing could interrupt McAlmont's rant that yes, he does feel better, alright, and well enough to tell you what you can do with what you have to offer. The string section backs him with a hint of violence and when he finally shuts up for a minute, Bernard's guitar steps in to make sure that there is no chance of capitulation. That David McAlmont is an impossibly tall looking black man wielding a three octave range and appears to be in drag even when he's not only adds to the impact of this sonic assault.
Needless to say, I listen in, hands clasped with joy, like a schoolyard voyeur waiting to scorn the accused with a "nya, nya, nya"!
Butler would walk away from McAlmont, reportedly in a huff, to a solo debut on Creation that featured "Not Alone", another visit to the wall that sounded like it was twenty-eight years old when it was released. It immediately became one of my favorite records of all time but we'll save that for later...
McAlmont hooked up with David Arnold to contribute a cover of "Diamonds Are Forever" to Arnold's "Shaken And Stirred" project. The video must be seen to be believed.
All's well that ends well: Butler made up with McAlmont and they released another album and Butler made up with Brett Anderson and they released another album - not as Suede but as The Tears. The three of them together would be frighteningly fey, very bitchy, and I doubt if anyone would survive it.
Check out the video for "Yes":
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c6b_Z-bS448
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