The Comedy of Errors: Circus Lupus - Pacifier (1 May 1992)

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Pacifier is a perfectly chosen title for this wonderful piece of funk-hardcore which comes in on a vocal line by Chris Thomson that sounds like Happy Flowers having a post-college breakdown.  At its heart, this is a break-up song for the grunge generation, in which the protagonist is weary of returning to a home in which it is clear that he is no longer welcome or respected, “Might as well be dead, as round here”.  In common with Milk’s wonderful Claws it seems that conflict is inevitable regardless of what the time is, “Out of nowhere/she must be a nocturnal/in her snare and I’ll feel it/just like a reptile”.  Despite the rage, there’s also great sadness about the time lost and shortly to be thrown away, which the music reflects through Chris Hamley’s high-held squalling guitar line which never allows the audience the relief of a drop to a more reflective, softer tone.  Whenever it tries to drop down, like the soothing peacemaker in a spousal row, it shifts up again as though the other side of the argument is saying, “Fuck your olive branch, I want to fight!”
There’s no peace to be had here and Thomson’s vocal suggests that he won’t find it and doesn’t really deserve to.  The final five note flourish from the band sounds every bit like another evening’s crockery throwing and shouting before a final, exhausted collapse into bed.  Brilliantly compelling stuff.

Video courtesy of maldoror.