Quote from: Mr Dilkington 04:24:00 AM
YouTube comment sections are usually a hovel full of vitriol and stupidity, but every so often you stumble across something worthwhile and enlightening. One of these rare occasions occurred whilst I was browsing the comments section of a My Bloody Valentine single (if you haven't heard of My Bloody Valentine, they're an amazing Irish shoegaze band and you should go look them up). After taking a 20 year hiatus, My Bloody Valentine came out with the brilliant MBV in 2013. Not quite as good as Loveless, but then Loveless is the best 90's album I've ever listened to (piss off OK Computer). I was instantly swept away by MBV, particularly the opening three tracks. The waves of fuzzy guitars and sonic booms lapping over you. And despite the cataclysmic sound, behind the frenetic noise is structure and subtlety. What sounds like harum sacrum music is actually beautifully intricate and arranged perfectly. Layers and layers are built upon each other, all working to create something special.
The comment in question, described the sound as "compressing the universe into a sugar cube." It instantly made sense to me, and it captured my imagination. At the time MBV was released, Borussia Dortmund were stampeding towards the latter stages of the Champions League, and being taken by them as I was, I spent a great deal of time watching Dortmund games (mostly Champions League) along with repeatedly listening to MBV. Instantly there was a connection. When I listened to MBV, I thought of Dortmund, when I watched Dortmund, "Only Tomorrow" and "Who Sees You" played in my head. Despite Klopp emphasising running, heart, emotion and guts, he also says his teams are tactically prepared, the triggers for when to press, who to press, for how long to press. When player A gets the ball, player B goes here and player C goes there. To the naked eye, this is spontaneous and free form, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Klopp meticulously fine tunes every aspect of his teams to squeeze every drop he possibly can from his players. So like Kevin Shields, Klopp is obsessed with having every cog working to produce the best possible end result. Plus I reckon Kevin Shields is bang into Gegenpressing.
After Borussia Dortmund drew 2-2 away to Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages, having dominated the match and in the process making Madrid look like semi professionals, I placed a sizeable bet on Dortmund to go the whole way and win Aul big ears (sizeable for a barman on minimum wage at least). The return would have been in the thousands. That night was a eureka moment for me. I had grown up watching Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side conquer all before them from 2008-2012. The pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, goal. Kick off, interception, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass..
....
Then came the semi final first leg against their group stage opposition Real Madrid. Real Madrid arrived at the Westfalenstadion stadium with a starting 11 costing not far off the 300 million mark. Ronaldo 80; Alonso 35; Modric 35; Pepe 30; Coentrao 25; Ramos 20.....
Although it will take time to get anywhere near the performance level Dortmund reached against Madrid that night, the ride will be fun. By the time Klopp's Dortmund had dismantled Real Madrid, they were already double league champions. I've been sat here listening once more to MBV, attempting to think of a nice way of tying this up, but I clearly lack the intellect to do so (it is 4am). So in the spirit of Jurgen Klopp, and with my heart on my sleeve - Jurgen Klopp is going to take this league by storm, and I for one can't fecking wait. Enjoy it.
