After My Bloody Valentine had undergone their massive metamorphosis from twee indie-poppers to guitar noiseniks on 1988's Isn't Anything, their eagerly anticipated follow-up was a long time coming. Rumours abounded of massive studio bills, and when the album finally arrived, it listed 18 engineering credits. At times, Loveless is 90 per cent pure studio overmatter--but that doesn't matter. Band leader Kevin Shield's element was the guitar overdub, creating an intoxicating headrush of varispeed, warped, electro-static effects. "To Here Knows When" remains unmatched as an experiment in just how much sonic dissonance a simple pop melody can bear, while Bilinda Butcher sings drowsily as if concussed by the sweet noise. Loveless isn't a case of form over content--the lyrical subject matter of dazed infatuation is perfectly illustrated by the snowblind guitar sound. After this, MBVmoved to Island and remained notoriously unproductive for years, perhaps unsure how to top this. --David Stubbs