www.list.co.uk/music Music
EXPOSURE JAMES BLACKSHAW
James Blackshaw is one of our most spellbinding contemporary artists: the virtuosic Londoner’s lush guitar mantras and instrumental psalms are extraordinary. He’s coming to Stirling soon but for now he’s reclining in Turin . You’re completely self-taught: that must take some patience. How did you do it? I just listened to other people’s records and learned that way. Then I started to develop techniques and a style of my own. Has being self-tutored made you more instinctive and liberated as a musician? In some ways – I’m inspired by music that’s not guitar-based, and try to find ways of incorporating that into what I’m doing – like trying to make my guitar sound like a piano. The tunings I use are unorthodox too. Alongside comparisons to Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Jack Rose, you’re often likened to American Primitive guitarists John Fahey and Robbie Basho: do you feel any cultural obligation to advance their doctrine? I feel flattered that people consider me to be in their tradition, but while I respect them very much, it’s important not to be too reverent and find your own voice. Before vanquishing folk and the avant-garde, you spent years playing in punk bands: what further aural curveballs enlighten your unearthly arias? Hmm, a lot of 60s pop! I love Harry Nilsson, The Zombies, The Beatles . . . (Nicola Meighan) ■ Tollbooth, Stirling, Sat 10 Oct.
REVIEW BLUEGRASS BLUEFLINT Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, Wed 30 Sep ●●●●● REVIEW INDIE FANFARLO King Tut’s, Glasgow, Wed 30 Sep ●●●●●
Stories of heartbreak, revenge and plenty more drama besides pepper the lyrics of ace Edinburgh bluegrass banjo duo Blueflint (Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson, on fingerpickin’ and clawhammer banjo respectively.) Their delicate vocal harmonising adds
a layer of achingly melancholy beauty to every song, from a murder ballad inspired by a William Faulkner story (‘What Lies Beneath’) to a cautionary tale about alcohol, which also sees the first outing for Arnott’s ukulele. Announcing that their influences include Gillian Welch and Iron and Wine, they admit that there’s one musical legend they can’t resist paying tribute to – good ’ol Hank Williams. ‘You can’t beat a bit of Hank,’ the
crowd is told, laughing when they add, ‘but that sounds a bit dodgy!’ However double entendres and good-humoured banter aside, there ain’t nothing dodgy about their Hank cover version. And when they sing that ‘this September chill is setting in’ on what is the last day of the month, their wonderful take on Americana could warm the coldest of hearts, and certainly melt the frosty weather outside. (Emma Newlands) ■ www.blueflint.org.uk
Bowie loves Fanfarlo. And so should you. And if you’ve ever caught their awesome folk punch live, you probably do. Relocated to Tut’s from ABC, the smaller stage is ideal for a band so positive about the communal experience, especially when the crowd is in an upbeat festive mood thanks to brilliant support from Swedish siblings, First Aid Kit.
It’s not hard for the good vibes to
continue when their ramshackle cacophony – heard before in Okkervil River and Port O’Brien, but never so politely – is so easy to rejoice in. That politeness comes from the softer Swedish roots of the band, complementing the powerful American folk, as voices never become overpowered and the stories come through loud and clear.
REVIEW INDIE MISS THE OCCUPIER Bar Bloc, Glasgow, Wed 30 Sep ●●●●●
‘We are Miss the Occupier, but most of you already know that,’ says the enchanting Roz Davies, the band’s pink haired front-woman, and unfortunately, this is probably true. It’s a sparse crowd indeed, but the spirit certainly isn’t lacking from this Glasgow trio. ‘All Night’ is a fluid jamboree of guitar wizardry and succulently saccharine vocals, whilst ‘The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things’ is a stand-out, with snaking bass and a spinningly orchestral sounding instrumental section.
As their short set comes to a close, the machine-like energy of the drumming marches to the forefront, showing that despite the deserted venue, each member plays a pivotal part in making this subtly stylish band tick.
Thankfully, there’s an epilogue too, When the last crash cymbal is hit and
as the calls for encore lead to First Aid Kit returning to the stage beside the headliners for a suitably shambling Devendra Banhart cover. It’s a fitting end to a set that remains unpolished, but still irresistibly eager and free from the pretentiousness alarms that most boy/girl/mandolin affairs set off. Bowie has taste. (Thomas Meek) ■ www.fanfarlo.com
the final note is played, the glass wall separating these three musicians from the crowd has been cracked. Hands come together in applause and heads bob in considered appreciation, showing that tonight, Miss the Occupier’s performance to a small crowd may not quite have been in vain. (Chris Cope) ■ www.myspace.com/misstheoccupier
REVIEW ROCK PART CHIMP Stereo, Glasgow, Fri 25 Sep ●●●●●
The term ‘cult following’ is thrown around all too easily these days, but it begins to prove apt as the dimly-lit bowels of Stereo, wall to with head- banging disciples, are thrust into perpetual noise this evening at the hands of Part Chimp. Previously described as ‘the loudest band in Britain’, the London quartet’s initial demeanour is somewhat deceptive; they appear rather modest and even somewhat mismatched as a unit. When they let loose, however, their presence is amplified ten-fold, demonstrating a real knack for bone-crushing grooves and technical intensity that leaves all those in attendance tonight either rubbing their eyes or holding their ears (perhaps even a bit of both).
Singer Tim Cedar, resplendent in paramedic green, seems an unlikely monster of a man, but at his peak, he punctuates the band’s ambitious assault with some truly earth-shattering shrieks. Touring in support of their much-lauded new album, Thriller, tonight’s performance verges on much the same calibre, save for a few obligatory tech troubles. The only real disappointment comes when the band return post-show to turn off the feedback. (Ryan Drever) ■ www.partchimp.com
8–22 Oct 2009 THE LIST 65