Lush – Gala (35th Anniversary Edition)

When Pitchfork published its 50 Best Shoegaze Albums list in 2016, Lush’s Gala provided the top ten with its only obviously left-field inclusion, featuring at an impressive #8. Music critics have a tendency to fetishise the album format as the realisation of an artist’s creative vision at a distinct period in time. As such, compilation records, of which Gala is one, are often dismissed or marginalised.

Sometimes, however, they’re just too good—or too important—to ignore. Think Singles Going Steady by Buzzcocks, or The Three E.P.’s by the Beta Band. Gala is another such compilation.

Indeed, there’s a strong argument that this is Lush at their shimmering best. The band’s sound is more established on Spooky (1992), but there’s a real charm to hearing them discovering their capabilities on Gala—although the reverse chronological order of the tracklist means they become less polished as the record progresses.

Lush only played their first show in March 1988, but their rapid ascent resulted in a coveted deal with 4AD and the release of a mini-album, Scar, in October 1989. Produced by John Fryer—half of This Mortal Coil, alongside 4AD co-founder Ivo Watts-Russell—Scar feels like a statement of potential rather than one of realisation. Compared to peers like Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, and labelmates Pale Saints, its guitar sounds are relatively unsophisticated; however, the strength of songs like the glistening “Etheriel” and swirling “Thoughtforms” certainly hints at better things to come.

Gala includes all six of Scar’s tracks, but its real highlights come from the Sweetness and Light and Mad Love EPs, produced by Tim Friese-Greene (Talk Talk) and Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins), respectively. Working alongside two legends of 1980s music, Lush found both their voice and their classic sound, a comforting hybrid of dream pop and shoegaze.

If pushed to identify the pinnacle of Lush’s pre-Spooky output, I’d have a hard time choosing between “Sweetness and Light” and “De-Luxe.” At their core, both are brilliantly written pop songs; aesthetically, the former jangles, while the latter sees Lush upping the tempo and hitting a little harder. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.

Looking back at the band’s career, it strikes me that their ability to exploit contrasts is key to their appeal. Light and dark, hard and soft, dream pop and shoegaze, Miki and Emma—Lush consistently demonstrated a willingness to explore disparate elements and the proficiency to make them work together. At their best—the whole of Spooky and the majority of Gala—they truly soared.

Gala (35th Anniversary Edition) is out now via 4AD.