Joe Banks
, March 8th, 2021 08:14
Self-hobbled and confined to a wheelchair, Luke Haines dug deep into middle England’s psychic hinterland to produce the definitive anti-Britpop album. Joe Banks reflects on a “monsterpiece” that still resonates today
As an opening track, ‘Light Aircraft On Fire’ is a vicious, lip-curled statement of intent. After a brief tease of melodic guitar, Luke Haines crashes into a furnace black riff, hissing his words out like a man rapidly running low on oxygen: “When you cut your lover slack/ You’ll get a monster back”. Haines will return to this theme of unleashing monstrous thoughts, but for now he’s sticking with self-immolation and hints of a “dark premonition”, with “a pre-science preacher in the cabin”. The bridge has a bone-crushing, militant vigour, while the chorus clutches onto that initial hint of melody for dear life. But ultimately, this song is a high velocity death wish, a petrol bomb smashed against the Britpop s