Jesca Hoop at Cornerhouse Annexe, 4th February 2012

26 February 2012 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: ,
photo courtesy of dell’s pics

Jesca Hoop is a big favourite here at Manchestertaper. After years of following her career with precious little chance of seeing her live, the news that she had moved to Manchester filled us with a very special sort of joy.

Her first Manchester gig of 2012 saw her in the calming surrounds of the Cornerhouse’s Annexe: a fine space and the perfect setting for an intimate gig that would see Hoop-baked cookies distributed to all. Support was a very fine set from Stefan Melbourne – a name we’ll be watching out for in future.

Accompanied only by Rebecca Stephens’ backing vocals, Jesca treated us to an entrancing set that took in selections from her neglected début, her breakthrough ‘Hunting My Dress’ and even a brace of as-yet-unreleased songs.

The new material bodes well for her forthcoming LP, with the tone varying from the plain daft (‘Hospital’, in which the protagonist prays for the attention that a broken arm would win) to the unremittingly bleak (DNR, which is much as its title would suggest.)

We loved every minute and must say a special thank you to Hey! Manchester for finding yet another fantastic venue. The recording came out very well: we had to tame an errant buzz on Ms Hoop’s guitar but it’s upfront and clear as a bell.

Stream “Angel Mom”:

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Download complete show in mp3 format (click here)

Download complete show in FLAC format (click here)

Setlist:
01 Murder of Birds
02 [chat]
03 Whispering Light
04 Seed of Wonder
05 Four Dreams
06 Enemy
07 The Kingdom
08 [chat]
09 Born To
10 Hospital (Win Your Love)
11 Dig this Record
12 DNR
13 [chat]
14 City Bird
15 Angel Mom
16 [chat]
17 Hunting My Dress

If you download and enjoy this music we would fully expect you to support the artist by buying their records and attending their gigs. Jesca Hoop’s official website is here and her releases can be purchased from record shops of quality and distinction such as Piccadilly Records.

Field Music at Deaf Institute, 19th February 2012

22 February 2012 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: ,
Field Music at Deaf Institute 2012-02-19

photo courtesy of tarquinlive

‘Plumb’ is the fourth album from Sunderland’s Field Music (“are we allowed to say that?  only me and Peter are from Sunderland”). Despite the album being only very recently released, and the band not yet blessed with commercial success, the evening sold out weeks ago.

Support for the evening came from Stealing Sheep, whose frontlady Emily we caught up with last month playing under the moniker Emily And The Faves.  It’s not hard to see why they were chosen as support, as their angular playing neatly mirrors that of Field Music.  We at manchestertaper highly recommend seeing them in either incarnation!

Field Music played a substantial chunk of their new album (indeed, they opened with the first three tracks).  Musically, it is a natural evolution of their earlier material: if anything, even more angular and obtuse.  Not an easy first listen, but we are certain it will be a grower.  The set was interspersed with a good balance of more familiar songs (it would be hard to imagine a Field Music set without the Rockist > Shorter segue), so plenty to keep the diehard fans satisfied.  Our only real gripe is that, at a hair over 70 minutes, the set was woefully short for a band with such an extensive back catalogue.  See them in small venues while you can, these guys deserve more than critical acclaim.

Stream “Them That Do Nothing”:

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Setlist:
01  intro
02  Start the day right
03  It’s okay to change
04  Sorry again, mate
05  Rockist part 4
06  Shorter shorter
07  Is this the picture?
08  Choosing sides
09  Let’s write a book
10  A gap has appeared
11  If only the moon were up
12  Effortlessly
13  A new town
14  Them that do nothing
15  Who’ll pay the bills?
16  A house is not a home
17  Something familiar
18  Share the words
19  How many more times?
20  Just like everyone else
21  (I keep thinking about) a new thing
22  Tell me keep me

If you download and enjoy this music, we would fully expect you to support the artist by purchasing their music and attending their gigs. Plumb can be purchased here: http://www.field-music.co.uk

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins at Central Methodist Hall, 6th February 2012

21 February 2012 by · 1 comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , , ,
photo courtesy of markandlaura

From the moment the doors opened to the moment the band took to the stage, there was a palpable sense of excitement in the air, and rightly so.  ‘Diamond Mine’, the 2011 album from King Creosote, seems to have finally hit the public consciousness – tonight’s show had already been moved to the larger Central Methodist Hall, and still managed to sell out the venue.

Gone was the usual joking from frontman Kenny Anderson, and in its place was a fiercely introspective take on Diamond Mine: the band opened by playing the album in its entirety, pausing only briefly, frequently segueing between songs.  From the Eno-esque opening of First Watch, through to the closing lines of Your Young Voice (“it’s your young voice keeping me holding on to my dull life”), the audience hung onto every note.  “That was Diamond Mine by King Creosote and Jon Hopkins” shouted Anderson triumphantly.

Having got this, the serious part, out of the way, Anderson appeared to relax somewhat, and we were treated to the odd touch of humour. With hindsight, the rest of the set was always going to struggle to match the intensity of the first half, but nonetheless we were treated to a choice selection from the extensive King Creosote back catalogue, some new songs (one so new that Anderson had to refer to handwritten lyrics!), and a beautiful cover of Tim Buckley’s ‘Song To The Siren’.

We at manchestertaper are very pleased with how the recording came out, and we hope you agree.

Stream “Your Own Spell”:

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Download complete show in mp3 format (click here)

Setlist:
01  intro
02  First watch
03  John Taylor’s month away
04  Bats in the attic
05  Running on fumes
06  Bubble
07  Your own spell
08  Your young voice
09  Cockle shell
10  And the racket they made
11  Spystick
12  Small memory
13  Sitting on a fence
14  Feart to go outside
15  ??
16  The only living boy in new york
17  Aurora boring alias
18  Song to the siren

If you download and enjoy this music, we would fully expect you to support the artist by purchasing their music and attending their gigs. Diamond Mine can be purchased here: http://www.fencerecords.com/artists/king-creosote/

Jo Gillot at Dulcimer, Chorlton, 22nd January 2012

06 February 2012 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , ,
photo grabbed from manchestertaper’s video recording

Folks who were canny enough to arrive early to Laura J Martin’s sold out album launch at Dulcimer were treated to a short but captivating solo set from Jo Gillot.

Playing a borrowed guitar and winning over an audience impatient for the headline act, it’s easy to see why people such as Marc Riley and Steve Lamacq are singing her praises.

Her songs are a bewitching mix of the ancient and arcane and the everyday and mundane: just when you’re sure you’re listening to some antique folksong, she drops in a turn of phrase that brings you right back to the present. The overall effect is utterly beguiling: songs that feel like they’ve been around forever and yet get under the skin in a way that museum pieces never could.

We got a lovely clear recording and look forward to catching a longer set soon.

Stream “Staple You”:

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Download complete show in mp3 format (click here)

Setlist:
Squirrel Away
Spectacular
The Sound It Makes
Travelling Raft
Beats the Leaves
Staple You

If you download and enjoy this music, we would fully expect you to support the artist by purchasing their music and attending their gigs. Jo’s recent album can be purchased here: http://jogillot.bandcamp.com/album/the-lido.