REVIEW INDIE
ANOIL AND THE HIDDNTHACKS, AlDAN MOFFAT AND DE ROSA SW63, Glasgow. Sat 27 Sep
REVIEW JAZZ
THE JOHN ESOREET PROJECT
Jazz Bar. Edinburgh, Thu 2 Oct
Tomorrow‘s music today. This Issue: Jonathan Coulton
From his secret lair in Brooklyn, New York, evil genius Jonathan Coulton has been hatching plans for world domination since 2005. His hook-filled fuzz-rock anthems about zombies, Tom Cruise, the Mandelbrot set and cyborg girlfriends have won him a fierce geek-friendly following worldwide. Now the lnternet’s finest troubadour Is about to make his Scottish live debut, as part of an entirely independent UK tour
Hang on, did you say geek-friendly?
It's true that Coulton has written songs that might particularly resonate with programmers (‘Code Monkey'). geneticists (‘That Spells DNA‘) and. um, giant squids ('l Crush Everything’). but his melodious appeal is pretty universal. Pan-galactic, even.
I don’t like comedy musical acts . . .
Coulton writes songs that are funny, but they aren't 'funny' songs. More often than not. his self-delusional, self-important and/or self-medicating characters are infused with heartbreaking pathos. bathos and/or the other Musketeer.
Chemikal Underground is best known for a generation of great bands who have now mostly split up or moved on. so fresh blood is needed. Tonight’s showcase presents suggests where the label goes next.
First on. Martin of De Rosa previews new material. solo. including two gorgeous songs ‘Stillness' and ‘Bookbinding‘ which suggest a folkier. protest-song direction along the lines of ‘Hattonrigg Pit Disaster’.
Next up. Aidan Moffat struggles against the growing racket. The ex- Arab Strapper is still a filthy old romantic. and true poet. but tonight he seems lost performing pieces from his spoken word album. Part-Ivor Cutler, part-Bukowski. it‘s lost on the crowd.
Signing French six-piece Angil and the Hiddntracks might seem a strange move. They‘re unashamedly jazzy. self- aware. but their chaotic. experimental sound makes total sense tonight. and catchy. groove-laden songs like ‘Trying to Fit’ completely win over the crowd. They even had one noisy Mogwai-style instrumental section. So. St Etienne meets Glasgow - a perfect marriage? (Rodge Glass)
I wwwangil. org
MMWIS—SOOct2008
Opening a 30-minute suite that runs the gamut of jazz styles with a sample of a disgruntled ansaphone message isn't the normal way to open a show. but then. 24-year-old Doncastrian pianist John Escreet is no ordinary player. Returning to the UK after two years study in New York. Escreet has brought with him an equally dynamic four-piece band to give vent to an intense and exhilarating experience. Sax player David Binney and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire make up the frontline for an at times fierce series of musical back-flips that take things to their pounding limit before framing things with crisp grooves and some smooth soloing from Binney. Too often young bucks who decamp stateside make their prodigal's return with all of their wannabe chops absorbed by rote. but Escreet and co don't sound even remotely derivative. On the aforementioned ‘Suite Of Consecmence'. drummer Tyshawn Sorey picks up the electronically treated message. turning it into a chant akin to Bob Dorough’s ‘Three is a Magic Number'. and a thing of Spiteful joy. (Neil Cooper) I wwwjohnescreetcom
Chas'n’Dave.
REVIEW GOTHIC COUNTRY O’DEATH Nice’n’Sleazy's, Glasgow, Sun 28 Sep me
A little bit barnyard hoedown. a little bit like being at a Bat Mitzvah on speed (or so I’ve heard at least) and a whole lot of fiddle. O'Death have made it abundantly clear that they are not like anyone else currently peddling their wares out there in the musical cosmos.
Attracting a sizeable crowd to Sleazy's. and one which sings and dances along at will. O’Death have built up a strong following for themselves, understandable given the quality of showmanship and. most importantly, solid songsmithery. From opener ‘Spider‘ right through to closing track ‘Nathan'. the band are a paragon of entertainment throughOut this gig. their energy highly infectious and unabating.
Yes. they look like a mixture of science teachers and hillbillys. and yes. they mash up a gothic. countified punk stew that probaly shouldn't work but does. as the collective reaction tonight suggests otherwise. So say no to the banality of stadium rock. Hell. anyone with a bass player called Othar the Tooth Collector needs a at least one evening's worth of our attention. (Zaineb al Hassani)
I www.0death.net
Basically. he makes Flight of the Conchords seem about as sophisticated as
So where can I hear this so-called genius?
Since quitting his job to pursue music full-time. Coulton has regularly uploaded new songs to his website - including the year-long Thing A Week experiment. which yielded a sensitive folk-rock cover of Sir Mix-A-Lot's bahookey hymn ‘Baby Got Back'. With a back catalogue of over 80 tracks. it can seem a bit overwhelming at first. but there's a cherrypicking “Best of’ at wwwjonathancoulton.com/primer/listen/ You can stream entire songs. then buy ‘em for a buck apiece. (Graeme Virtue)
I Oran Mor. Glasgow, Sat 25 Oct.
REVIEW INDIE INJUNS
Henry's Cellar Bar. Edinburgh, Sun 5 Oct eee
Since our last lnjun encounter — the release of their debut album Lionel, It’s a Complicated World last year — the eclectic Skye ensemble have shed a few members and released a new single. ‘Jake of Monterey'. which they are bringing to a smattering of Scottish venues live.
The theatrical exuberance and brass bravado of their previous efforts is gone. As is the concept of a frontman. with vocalists Hector Maclnnes and Leighton Jones sequestered behind drums and keyboards. respectively. and. at one point. centre stage occupied only by an guitar on a stand.
What has survived the cull is their innate sense of musicianship and songcratfting. leaving a robust four- piece with more in common with the English folk rock of the 19708. Alan Price and Bob Dylan than their previous genre-hopping form.
This maturation in sound comes at a price. though. in putting away childish things they have lost the playful nature of their live shows. and when (former band member) Claes Cem steps up to the mic for the final few tracks. it is a tantalising reminder of what is missing. (Suzanne Black)
I www./'n/'uns.co.uk