I TRlPlYCH
It’s not too often you hear a folk-rock shanty addressed to a hermit, but then it’s not often you hear a band like Lucky Luke. That song, ‘Fear Eats the Soul’, is one of the gems from their stunning debut album, Patrick the Survivor, out in May. It’s remarkably well realised, with Lucy Sweet and Simon Shaw’s vocals striking a path through a dense swirl of scraped fiddle, soaring flute, wiry guitar and pagan-jazz drumming. There are lilting ballads, dark laments and even an avant-rock
Wickerman freakout.
The songs reflect Shaw’s Highland roots, but they’re not based on personal experience.
‘I see it more like writing a film or a story,’ Shaw explains. ‘lt’s about trying to set a scene and
create an atmosphere.’
Formed by Shaw, a former member of V-Twin and one half of National Park, and harmonium player Morag Wilson six years ago, the band has evolved from a home recording project into a six- piece troupe featuring local indie stalwarts, young prodigies and a writer and cartoonist in Sweet. While often compared to acid-folk deities Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention, live the Luke take on an urgent Velvet Underground lurch. Performing at the Pastels’ Geographic event is a real honour for the band, Shaw telling of how supportive Stephen and Katrina of the Pastels have been in the past.
Lucky Luke have shared musicians and stages with Alasdair Roberts before, but both acts are wary of being lumped together as part of some new folk revival. ‘I feel a bit sorry for Ali, because he’s been around for years,’ says Sweet. ‘I don’t see us as doing very similar things at all, but obviously you’re in a small city and you’re using folk influences so people will think you’re all round at each other’s houses every night, having a good old knees up!’ (Stewart Smith)
I Tron Theatre. G/asgow. Sat 30 Apr.
from across the pond who shares a label wrth Tort0rse and Trans Am but has a more unadulterated VlSlOll of the rock experience. ARAB STRAP
UsIng either of the words ‘Falkrrk' or ‘mrserablrsts' to describe one of Scotland's greatest
20 THE LIST 14—28 Apr £3535
muSIcal maladres rs sellrng them way short. The local aord-frred mrnr- dramas they caused In therr youth have given way to bigger, more ambitious spectral works. No one SOunds like 'em cause nobody can.
Portrshead. Phoenrx. Lindrsfarne and ernt . . Arr. The tradition of nam.ng yOur band after a funny SOundrng place has generated mixed reSLrlts Over the years but Aberfeldy's music rs of
sue" a ’1..a f'a‘. T "J(:",‘(>(>‘If(w (1",. "L, ‘lri' caused: . Texas ' C'MCaijm Eur/ans car": thougnttu. the. . manage sta, r? the e><::r-ssu.r: T.‘.':‘."‘f:‘)‘~ zone, sud." 's f'lr- en: "fr" glu; art" perfo'rr‘
DU)" tljff.
The ter'ri 'rnrfle kl'r' rs r" Insult when .ou rr‘akt: ntusrc as ‘illl‘tijflflfll‘, good as thrs iot. Glasgou's next hid rnusrcal heroes. all orchestral swoops. plaintive hos/ls and perfect choruses.
Argentina max. he farnrlrar' because of Diego Maradona and that nasty war Thatcher started rn 1982 but now there's one reason more: the velvety tones of Juana Molina. a straw—haired. acoustic chanteuse whose musrc would make a horse weep its so lovely.
Geographic Records. Stephen Pastels magic record label, was started to celebrate the skills of people lrke these — muSrCIans wrth a taste for the srmple. beguiling and effortlessly melodrc songs.
Guy Blakslee may not look lrke much but he's got an Innate ear for a splendid and unusual tune and a three-octane range to capture the bugger rn. Trme spent
sharrng brlls With the likes of Bonnie 'Prrnce' Billy and Devendra Banhart mrght give yOu a clue to where he's going.
See panel.
ALASDAIR ROBERTS Once part of the brains. brawn and looks behrnd Appendix Out. Slnce heading off solo. Roberts has caned hrmself a
KING CREOSOTE
f.~é‘r‘_)lr?llll’.}. rarer/tilt songs .rkr: ..nl, tr‘t-t htt-
ft the full/V: (/1le firm
:uld. SAM PREKOP A fear it. pres. of
Trrlrzrralla t'rorr‘ thls n‘an. another rtorlternrrzrar‘. of lortorse and Papa r‘vl KAMA AINA
.lapan rs a tertrlr: hreerlrnd ground for earthy. sonrr: extlenrnentatron. Here are some more keen examples.
MUGISON
What he lacks lfl slapstick humour he makes up for with dude like, (:omptrter'drrven hlues. Savage, haunting stuff.
JUAN ATKINS
You kr row when peOple say “oh no. he rnvented that" or ‘they v-Jer'e among the first to ever do that'. well. when rt comes to techno. Juan Atkins did and he was. A true pioneer of the motor'rk menace that rs Detrort ttx3hno. AKUFEN
No. we're strll not entrr'elr, sure what 'rnrr:ro house' rs either. to he totally honest. but tl us Canadran dancefloor technician makes people move fur'rously to hrs frantic cut-up sampladelrca. so he must he doing; somethrng right.
STACY PULLEN
The second generatron of techno turntahirsts acted as foot soldrers for the likes of Juan Atkzns and Derrrck May. drssen‘rrnatrng the
rhythmic 4 1. pulse of early 93s Arnerlca. StaCy Pullen was
'. ' LAURIE x\l\’i\.l?50r‘fi
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CANDI STATON
Candi Staton sounds in fine fettle down the phone from Atlanta. There’s no reason why she shouldn't be: her star is riding high again and for this 62- year-old it is all something of a surprise. ‘Triptych invited me,’ she laughs. ‘That's a good reason. I’ve never been invited before, I think it’s because of this new compilation CD. One day my publishers called me and said, “Well, they are coming out with 26 of your old songs on a compilation.” At this point Staton begins to squeal as only a good gospel and blues-loving girl from Hanceville, Alabama can. ‘And I’m like, “What are they doing? Those things are 30 years old.” But I was surprised when they started selling like that and the reviews came in - l was like “wow!”'
It wasn’t always like this for Staton. She was one of a number of exploited, hard-working blues band singers who worked their guts out on the Chitlin' circuit across America in the 605 and early 705. ‘You have to remember, darling, that at the time Aretha Franklin was the big buzz, then Gladys Knight and Tina Turner, those ladies were just so big that people like me just got lost in the shuffle.’
Exhausted by the violent and alcoholic atmosphere of touring venues, Staton went back to her first love - gospel music - in the 19805.
With her finished autobiography about to enter a US bidding war, this teetotal, religious record and publishing proprietor is chuckling at the fact that her young heart has been allowed to run free once again. ‘l’m overjoyed, l have such a lust for life, and you better get ready, coz down at Triptych we are gonna be jamming.‘ (Paul Dale) I Bongo Club. Edrnrguryh, Fr 2’1 Apr; Herr/90,7 rpm, Glasgow. Sun 7 r'/7a;.r.
Triptych Festival runs from Wed 27 Apr to Sun 1 May. See rock listings page 75 for events on Wed 27 and Thu 28 Apr, and next issue for full listings.