With ‘WhatFunLifeWas,’ Bedhead made its case

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 | 9:04 a.m.

From Creedence Clearwater Revival to Van Halen to Oasis, sibling combos have for decades been a rock 'n' roll tradition.

During the 1990s a brother tandem from Wichita Falls, Texas, carried on that legacy, albeit outside the bright spotlight enjoyed by the Fogertys, the Van Halens and the Gallaghers.

For the better part of eight years Matt and Bubba Kadane anchored a band called Bedhead, beloved in indie-rock circles for its consistently spellbinding songs.

Tagged "slowcore" by critics, Bedhead's music progresses at a leisurely, potentially sleep-inducing, pace. Over time, pieces swell mightily, building from quiet beginnings toward moments of dramatic intensity.

While all three of the band's full-length albums and its two easily obtained EPs are recommended, debut CD "WhatFunLifeWas" provides the best introduction to the band.

From the start of marvelous opener "Liferaft," the quintet's signature techniques are in full effect: cascading three-guitar waves, hypnotic bass and drum rhythms and Matt Kadane's half-buried vocals.

Two tracks later, standout single "Bedside Table" provides another highlight, as a seemingly subdued love story gives way to an explosive, cymbal-crashing conclusion.

Another key tune, "Crushing," proves that Bedhead doesn't require furious finishes to be convincing. This time, the emphasis is on Kadane's understated singing, and esoteric lyrics you often have to strain to make out.

An example from that song: "To be crushed is not to be / Hit and then left to recover / It's to be left untouched / Unable to pass from one place to another."

While "WhatFunLifeWas" is an excellent starting point, the fun by no means stops there. The early "4SongEP" -- recorded on one microphone in a single take in an empty Dallas church -- is also well worth tracking down, particularly for its cover of Joy Division's "Disorder."

In 1998, Bedhead called it quits, to the disappointment of the band's small but dedicated legion of fans. The Kadanes remain a sibling duo, however, working together on another excellent project called the New Year.

Artist: Bedhead.

Title: "WhatFunLifeWas."

Year of release: 1994 (reissued 2001, Touch and Go Records).

Tracklisting: "Liferaft," "Haywire," "Bedside Table," "The Unpredictable," "Landlord," "Crushing," "Unfinished," "Powder," "Foaming Love," "To the Ground," "Living Well," "Wind Down."