Brightblur

Description

Brightblur is the debut album by the American electronic music combo Massivivid, independently released on Tattoo Records in 1998, a division of Benson Records, manufactured and distributed in the US by Provident Music Distribution.

The album won the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award in the category Hard Music: Album of the Year at the 30th Annual GMA Dove Awards, 1999.

Safety first! If you don’t like AR then don’t buy this album, but you’ll be missing out on good music and lyrics. It’s time to get into something that will make life different, a change for the better. I had no idea from looking at the album sleeve, well set out though it is and writing looking as though it comes from a science fiction movie, what to expect. Sometimes you can tell from this what sort of album you’re going to get. Having accomplished this after a short time I was astounded at the sound. I’d say this album is a must if you’re looking to add to your collection. You can do a lot worse! You won’t be short-changed, you won’t be disappointed. Each track is a work of art, sung with style. This is Christian music at its best! Go out and get it for yourself! [Ken Eaves, Cross Rhythms, February 1999]

Take a look at the root words comprising the name of Tattoo artist Massivivid: “massive” and “vivid.” The popular definition of “massive” brings up visions of huge objects, things with some heft, solid, substantive, immovable… you know, massive.

The music that makes up Massivivid’s label debut is definitely massive: big, loud guitars and bass, heavy electronica-inspired beats and aside from the synth and samples sprinkled in, seemingly precious little else.

Brightblur is a repetitive, hammering sonic assault, with vocalist/songwriter Wally Shaw graduating with full honors from the Trent Reznor School of Record Making, droning vocals punctuated by the occasional shouted chorus wedged inside the mix.

Where does the “vivid” part come in? To be honest, I’m still wondering. The repetitive nature of the loops and riffs tends to obscure the crux of the lyrics, save for the slightly less complex (read: loud) cuts such as the title track, «Epitome» and «A Hand Brushed by Tired Eyes».

Shaw, formerly of Deitiphobia, and co-producer Mark Nash, formerly of PFR, threw a ton of effects at the tracks, but surprisingly few on Shaw’s voice, making the dry vocals stand out from the fuzz of the guitars and beats. If its meant to be a counterpoint to the digital tips and tricks on the songs, it’s a lot like the rest of the record… sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. [Lucas W. Hendrickson, CCM, March 1999]

CD tracklist:

01. Flesh:wound
02. Cobalt
03. Unmade
04. Gripped
05. Epitome
06. The Glimpse
07. …A Hand Brushed By Tired Eyes
08. Crop Circles
09. Deep Heaven
10. Drop (feat. Ladonna Witmer)
11. Forgiven
12. Brightblur
13. Flesh:wound Nanovivid (Aleixa Last Minute Mix)
14. Unmade (Reprise)
15. Brightblur (Wondervivid Mix)
16. Fresh:wound (0400)

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Tattoo Records.

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