Sound Investments
Despite what many think, the Fringe is a time when musicians can break through. Here are two very different success stories: Editors, and Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen. Andrew Borthwiok and Mark Edmundson report.
THE ENTHUSIASTS
When exactly does a moment become a movement'.’
It was at a gig in (ilasgow's (iarage just over a year ago that The List was witness to the impact Editors had made. The single. ‘Bullets'. had been re-released and the show was crammed with an audience singing along to the entire set. Support hand (and good friends) We Are Scientists had impressed. but Editors had connected. The movement had begun. No mean feat for a hand initially dismissed as Interpol-lite.
Yet. talking to singer-guitarist. Tom Smith. on a day off before their forthcoming T on the Fringe show at the (‘orn Exchange. he‘s in a relaxed and friendly mood. In a far cry from the ‘I told you so' attitude he could have had. he jokes about recent stints of European touring. ‘I should have my own Ryanair club card.‘ he says. ‘They could he our next tour sponsors: Editors. brought to you by Ryanair.‘
Despite the singer‘s jokes. the group's success has been unquestionable. Less blokey than Hard-Ei but more welcoming than Bloc Party‘s frosty art—school outlook. the Birmingham quartet straddles a line somewhere between mainstream melody and dark. introspection. It's a sound that has seen the group win over the public en masse. racking up numerous international dates including. festivals in Europe and Asia and sell-out shows in the ['K and US. And crucially. while TIM Back Room climbed to number two in the UK album charts. Editors managed to retain some dignity. avoiding attention—grabbing headlines. keeping themselves to themselves and letting the music do the talking. The unassuming Smith is avoiding the media glare even more carefully now that he's partnered with Radio l D]. Edith Bowman. Razorlight they ain‘t. Thankfully.
Deeply appreciative of the bond his hand has made with audiences. the singer is nevertheless keen to round off this album and begin its follow up with producer Garrett Lee ([2. Snow Patrol). ‘There‘s an epic quality to our music that we don't want to shy away from] he explains. ‘but we‘d like to delve into some of the more sparse moments and he‘s the man to capture those elements.‘ And as for the tone of the record‘.’ ‘lt‘ll probably be more optimistic. We’re in a different place emotionally than with the last one.‘
Progress and movement. people. progress and movement.
52 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 17—2-1 Aug zoos
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THE ECCENTRICS Charming impressionable audiences with their often simple. seductive and unsavoury songs of sorrow. mirth and sodomy. Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen are this year‘s talk of the Spiegeltent. if not the Fringe. a guilty pleasure of Balkan black magic that has risen through the ranks. Today. the sordid ensemble tours a good deal. though not exclusively. with the Spiegeltent (.‘vlikeIangelo would claim to have first performed for the nomadic venue in Belgium's enchanting summer of 1924) but their first experience of the Edinburgh Fringe came in 2003 as part of the first l.a ('lique. exhaustively drumming up support on the Royal Mile by day and performing through the wee hours in ('arlton Road's secreted Venue. ‘It was hard work~ exclaims the darkly charismatic leader of these delightfully flawed and roguish troubadours. ';\.s everyone knows Edinburgh is an exacting beast. but being the gentlemen we are we dug our heels in. As long as you survive it it's sort of exciting.' Then last year they returned. this time as part of the Spiegeltent programme. garnering a string of gushing reviews that came to print dolefully
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Editors (main pic) and Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen (below)
late in liringe proceedings. finally. this year. their dependany debauched musical theatre is anything but a sleeper hit. topping the Spiegel bill for another three week run and meeting expectation with a glimmer. ‘lt's a good relationship. eycn a match made in heaven‘ muses Mikelangelo on the fateful marriage of show and venue. ‘because the tent itself is like this magic. imaginative world that you go into. and with The Black Sea (ientlemen you go into our world too. and we hope that that which is outside will be forgotten. it is important to allow the mind to play and go into different realms. We've done our time in the pubs. l)on‘t
‘THERE'S AN EPIC QUALITY TO OUR MUSIC THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SHY AWAY FROM'
get me wrong. I think it's good for everyone to do that. but there comes a time when you have to say "no more...
While they may yet return. Mikelangelo believes that the (ientlemen‘s meteoric rise is by no means over. ‘.»\s far as we‘re concerned we are the sound of the future. We want little cuties with their transistors walking along listening to us.’ That as may be. but anyone unfamiliar with their corrupting call to arms "A l-‘ormidahle Marinade' would do well to lock up their daughters.
Editors, T on the Fringe, Corn Exchange, 21 Aug, 7pm, £12; Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen, The Spiegel Garden, 667 8940, until 27 Aug (not 21), 9pm, £10 (£8).