Sampling machinery： 取樣中、製造中

喜歡研究源流派別的人會覺得：The Housemartins 活躍於 1985 - 1987，1988 就散團了。後來進入到90年代，才開始有所謂的 Lo-Fi "低傳真"。而 Belle and Sebastian 第一張專輯 Tigermilk 1996年5月發行，我買到的 If You 're Feeling Sinister 發行於 1996年11月。據說他們屬於 "Chamber-Pop Movement" "室內樂運動" 的健將之ㄧ，跟 Divine Comedy 一樣， 是為 "對 Lo-Fi（低傳真）運動的反動，強調旋律性及精緻華美的製作，編曲中多加入管弦樂編制.... "

Belle and Sebastian 的靈魂人物是吉他手 Stuart Murdoch。據說他是 Felt 的超級樂迷，曾經在唸高中時從格拉斯哥專程跑到倫敦，只為了見Felt 的主唱 Lawrence 一面。看到這裡的時候我恍然大悟，啊，原來如此....

Belle and Sebastian 的歌裡面有超像Felt 的感覺歌詞，但是並不像Felt 那樣編排音場和重覆恍惚的網絡。Felt 總讓我想到音樂甜美些、文謅謅多了的 Joy Division。在那個年代當然是啟發性的大師級團體，可是坦白說，以現在的我而言，很難真正的喜歡他們。

這是同名歌 If You're Feeling Sinister 的歌詞：

Anthony walked to his death because he thought he'd never feel this way again
If he goes back to the house then things would go from bad to worse, what could he do?
He wants to remember things exactly as he left them on that Wednesday
And if there is something else beyond, he isn't scared because
It's bound to be less boring than today
It's bound to be less boring than tomorrow
Hilary walked to her death because she couldn't think of anything to say
Everybody thought that she was boring, so they never listened anyway
Nobody was really saying anything of interest, she fell asleep
She was into S&M and bible studies
Not everyone's cup of tea she would admit to me
Her cup of tea, she would admit to no one
Her cup of tea, she would admit to me
Oh but her cup of tea, she would admit to no one

Hilary went to the Catholic Church because she wanted information
The vicar, or whatever, took her to one side and gave her confirmation
Saint Theresa's calling her, the church up on the hill is looking lovely
But it doesn't interest, the only things she wants to know is
How and why and when and where to go
How and why and when and where to follow
How and why and when and where to go
How and why and when and where to follow

But if you are feeling sinister
Go off and see a minister
He'll try in vain to take away the pain of being a hopeless unbeliever

When she got back, her spirituality was thrown into confusion
So she got a special deal on renting
From the man at Rediffusion
"Look at me! I'm on TV
It makes up for the shortcomings of being poor
Now I'm in a million pieces", picked up for deliberation
By the people listening at home
By the people watching on the telly
By the people listening at home
By the people watching on the telly

But if you are feeling sinister
Go off and see a minister
Chances are you'll probably feel better
If you stayed and played with yourself

文字很優美吧？我也這麼認為。

不過，我總覺得我又看到那個抱著小熊的少女，只有抱著小熊才記起來怎麼樣笑的女人。唉唉，真的有那麼嚴重嗎？我也認為人終究是要和自己相處，可是我不認為這是件值得悲憫的事情；甚至不值得拿來說嘴。因為這樣做，其實是直接的混淆了兩個不同的平台。有人曾說過關於 "形上學的恐怖"，我認為恐佈在於混淆它的人，而不是形上學本身。把形而上的體悟和探索直接搬到現實生活裡面來，就像是神鬼祖先大白天跑出來一樣，當然是恐怖到了極點啊。更不用說，把它寫成歌了。

看起來好像我還是不大愛他們喔？並不是。我只是借題發揮罷了呵呵呵。

在了解了這些背景資料之後，我會比較能夠靜下心來，認真的去聽聽他們，從而才真正能覺得有些歌還真的蠻好聽的呢。原來他也是Felt 的歌迷 (我年輕時也喜歡過那種頹靡啊...) ，原來出這張專輯的時候還在唸大學，原來 Lo-Fi 讓人厭煩，所以我一定要繁複給你看，我們當然可以一樣的動人。

音樂還是一樣的音樂。不過，這些尋找資料，思考，和感觸會讓人屏除掉一些莫名的干擾，認真點去喜歡他們看看。這些東西都讓人感到真實以及感動。

我相信直觀、第一個感覺的絕對正確性。我覺得聽起來像什麼，當然就是像什麼。這跟史實可以一點關係都沒有的。不過，我不排除修正的可能；不排斥任何資料，不論是眾口鑠金還是先知灼見的價值或感觸：畢竟，我的修行還差的遠了嗎。

2007.6.6