Messiness – Previous Life
Messiness’ “Previous Life” is a hazy structured mix of 1990s psychedelia and Britpop melancholy, with elements from Spiritualized, early Suede, and the more melancholic areas of alternative music. It’s a track that seems both nostalgic, rooted in the past but reaching for something just out of reach. The song begins in a moving, psychedelic atmosphere where fuzzy guitars and melodic hooks combine smoothly, bringing neo-psychedelia and the attitude of ’90s alt rock. The way Messiness combines styles is easy: the hazy soundscapes of psych rock meet the melodic warmth of Britpop without ever feeling “unnatural.” At 2:04, the song slows down and pushes into its more psychedelic side and time seems to stretch. At 2:20, the electric guitar takes up the forefront of attention, recovering the energy and maintaining the tempo. Lyrically, “Previous Life” is a poetic expression of bitterness and passion. Lines like “Sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste all explode / I’m defenceless, barely breathing” send the listener into sensational and emotional explosion. There’s a desperate beauty to the way the storyteller envisions a “mythical, mystical life” free of the responsibilities of the present—dreams, laws, and even relationships. It’s dramatic, and wickedly comedic. “Without dreams, aspirations, or wives / I’m making plans for my previous life” reflects an entire generation divided between nihilism and romance. “Previous Life” is equal parts inner anthem and cosmic daydream. Messiness shows that the psych-rock revivalist movements continues to have new directions to go, especially when coupled with intelligence, warmth, and such lush guitar harmonies.
Photo Credit: Messiness photo by Roberta Ferrante
https://messiness.bandcamp.com
