photo by Robin Hill

We at manchestertaper have been fans of Jane since Like an Aspen Leaf. Despite that being released almost 10 years ago, and Jane having released several more albums since, we’re almost ashamed to admit that we never got a chance to catch her live until last months’ acoustic set at the IABF (of course it didn’t help that she has never toured extensively).

From her alt-folk roots through to her more recent, darker, psych-folk offerings, there’s not a great deal we can add that’s not already been written: haunting melodies, sometimes quirky lyrics, and more recently experimental. Tonight we were treated to a relatively stripped back set (although not quite as stripped-back as the IABF gig), with projected visuals to The Fallen By Watch Bird. It was a slightly surreal experience, but it was a very well delivered and cohesive set. Our only complaint is that we would have like more older material to make up for the past 10 years we missed out on!

We are very pleased with how the recording sounds, and we hope you agree.

Stream “Silver chord”:

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Setlist:
01  intro
02  Europium alluminate
03  The fallen by watch bird
04  Majic milk
05  Turning in circles
06  Whispers of winter
07  My soul was lost, my soul was lost and no one saved me
08  Silver chord
09  Wonderous love
10  Like an aspen leaf
11  Milk money
12  Death

If you download and enjoy this music we would fully expect you to support the band by buying their records and attending their gigs. Jane’s official website is here and you can buy The Fallen By Watch Bird here.

In 2005, Doves went over to Austin, TX for the SxSW music festival. I believe they played a total of 3 gigs that week; this is their third and final performance at this festival, and took place in Waterloo Records. It was a short acoustic in-store set. This is Doves as their very finest, stripped back sounds, recorded from (more or less) right in front of the band. Enjoy!

Stream “Almost forgot myself”:

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Setlist:
01  intro
02  Snowden
03  One of these days
04  Caught by the river
05  Almost forgot myself
06  There goes the fear

photo courtesy of Simon Lee

Headlining the 17th birthday of the Night & Day café.

Stream “Emilie”:

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Setlist:
01  intro
02  William Shatner’s dog
03  Run
04  Coney
05  Do you want to come with?
06  Darling don’t
07  Funny hat
08  Lost without you
09  What’s that you say little girl?
10  Emilie
11  Jam
12  The ground beneath your feet
13  Play
14  New York
15  Sick note
16  Alabaster
17  Bumper cars

photo courtesy of hilaryg from the elbow forums

As part of Manchester International Festival, Elbow played two consecutive dates at the Bridgewater Hall with the Hallé Orchestra.

Stream “Friend of ours”:
Salford skyline blue, always you – rest in peace, Bryan

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Set 1:
01  intro
02  Station approach
03  Mirrorball
04  The stops
05  Grounds for divorce
06  Switching off
07  The loneliness of a tower crane driver
08  Some riot
09  Weather to fly

Set 2:
01  intro
02  Grace under pressure
03  Starlings
04  Red
05  Scattered black and whites
06  Newborn
07  Great expectations
08  Friend of ours
09  Powder blue
10  One day like this

Malcolm’s new project, Human Don’t Be Angry, opened. So in effect we were treated to a double dose of Malcolm this evening. The main set, presented here, is his more familiar singer-songwriter fare with a few new tracks thrown in for good measure. The audience interaction was fairly minimal – Malcolm appearing somewhat introspective tonight – until someone asked if he was taking requests, which lightened the mood. Mostly attentive audience, with the odd sing-along here and there (eg. Blue plastic bags).

Stream “King of bring”:

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Setlist:
01  intro
02  Four cigarettes
03  Devastation
04  Monday night nothing
05  Autumn
06  Week off
07  A brighter beat
08  We’re all going to die
09  Blue plastic bags
10  Gone, gone, gone
11  [Pants down]
12  Choir
13  Shadows
14  Moments
15  Love comes in waves
16  Burst noel
17  The whole world’s gone to fuck
18  Loneliest night of my life came calling
19  King of bring
20  Devil and the angel

It was something of a last-minute decision to see Dan Michaelson this night, but I’m very glad that I did. Dan has a rich baritone voice drawing the inevitable comparisons with Bill Callahan and, to a lesser extent, Richard Hawley. Beautifully melancholic music to savour with a fine whisky in front of a roaring fire.

Stream “Something awful / Dancing”:

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Setlist:
01 intro
02 New ruins
03 Knots
04 The letter
05 Tonight
06 Knee deep
07 I was a gentleman
08 All the trying (false start)
09 All the trying
10 Breaking falls
11 Something awful / dancing
12 I lay with you