In no particular order some of my favourite music moments. No24 Mercy Seat by Ultra Vivid Scene.
Not to be confused with the equally excellent Nick Cave song of the same name, Mercy Seat was the second single by New York’s Ultra Vivid Scene.
Essentially a vehicle for ex-Happiness and Crash guitarist Kurt Ralske, UVS were one of the less heralded acts on the ’80s/’90s 4AD roster.
Clearly influenced by the likes of The Velvet Underground and The Jesus and Mary Chain, UVS nevertheless created an atmosphere all of their own, heightened by Ralske’s somewhat risqué lyrics, which often referenced sado-masochistic proclivities.
Ralske released just three LPs under the UVS moniker, they’re all decent, but by far the strongest is the self-titled debut from, which Mercy Seat is drawn.
Anchored by a simple throbbing ascending riff – it’s a kind of companion piece to J&MC’s trash classic Sidewalking.
Have a listen – you’ll see what I mean.
