We’re not yet at 2016 proportions – maybe the coronavirus will push numbers up a bit – but I was sad to read of another musician passing away earlier this week.
The focus on Mazzy Star is often lead singer Hope Sandoval, and her gorgeous, laconic drawl, rather than the rest of the band.
But David Roback, co-founder of the band who passed away on Tuesday, wrote and produced most of their most beautifully bewitching songs.
Celebrity tributes were lead by ex-Bangle Susannah Hoffs, who used to be in a band with Roback, Unconscious, before either of them had a sniff of success. (Imagine knowing Hoffs and Sandoval? Jeez, I think I’d just melt). Anyway, Hoffs posted that Roback would be “eternally missed”, which, whilst I’m sure is entirely sincere, has the teensiest whiff of a comment she had lined up ready to go for a while.
Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate, J Mascis of Dinosuar Jr, and Andy Bell of Erasure Ride and Oasis joined in, with Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bellsadding: “I don’t know what I would do without Fade Into You.”
Me neither, Alexis. Me neither.
And as a special treat, a song from an album of absolute pop bangers, this one relying heavily on Fade Into You, from title to musical track to the occasional Sandoval vocal snippet:
Richard X – Into U (feat. Jarvis Cocker & Hope Sandoval
And then there’s this, which…well, for legal reasons, lets just say it really reminds me of Fade Into You:
More soon.
A History of Dubious Taste 