Mr. Heart at Club Academy, 26 May 2012

30 May 2012 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , ,
Photo by Jak-Kenton Spraggan

Sometimes it seems there is so much good music out there to discover that it’s easy to miss what’s on your very doorstep.  It took a heads-up from a friend in Leicester, of all places, to turn me on to Salford’s own Mr. Heart.  “They are fantastic,” he says.  “Bit PJ Harvey-esque.”

So it is that I find myself in the beer garden of Kro, on the hottest day of the year so far, approaching three girls half my age with a view to recording their impending shenanigans for our website.  We have no shame here at Manchester Taper.  Luckily, I don’t get a slap in the face, so the girls and I take our business indoors.  Score.

Onstage, screaming feedback gives way to a riot of crunching riffs, buzzing bass, and flailing drums.  Then all too quickly they break it down.  Mr. Heart do the quiet-loud thing well and often.  They’ve clearly been studying the alternative scene of the early ’90s (Pixies, The Breeders), which I remember with fondness and which they, almost certainly, don’t.

But it would be foolish to hold their youth against them.  Mr. Heart are as musically accomplished as they are knowledgeable.  Tamsin does, indeed, have an air of Polly Jean about her, while bassist Sophie is a protégée of legendary Blockhead Norman Watt-Roy, no less.  But it’s Helen — the least likely rock chick of the three — who surprises most when she turns out to be a monster drummer.

They tear through seven of their planned ten-song set before an edgy jobsworth at the Academy informs them to make the next song their last.  It’s the only unsatisfactory moment of the night, but I have the feeling Manchester Taper will be crossing paths with Mr. Heart again soon.  And, if we’re there, you can be, too.

Stream “The Hide”:

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Setlist:

Boredom’s Device
Mr. Heart
Sexy Husby
The Hide
Amber
Devolution
The Riot Song
Stones

If you download and enjoy this music we would fully expect you to support the band by buying their records and attending their gigs.  Mr. Heart’s official website is here.

The Miserable Rich at Deaf Institute, 20 April 2012

22 May 2012 by · 1 comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , ,
photo by manchestertaper

Looking at the Miserable Rich’s website, the first thing that strikes you is that this is a band that plays a lot of gigs. Including, apparently, two previous appearances in this very room – how they’ve managed to pass me by I do not know. And what a wondrous band I’ve been missing out on: from the introductory whine of stringed instruments being brought to order to the final, unforgettable, encore the Brighton sextet kept the Saturday night Deaf Institute crowd completely spellbound.

The setlist leaned heavily on last year’s “Miss You” LP, a chamber pop concept album about ghostly goings on – but don’t let that lazy description put you off: what in lesser hands could have been fey and indulgent is here full-blooded, captivating and shot through with an irresistible black humour.

Singer James de Malplaquet makes for a captivating host; between keening vocals and stage patter to elucidate the ghostly thread holding the new songs together, he even managed to sweet talk the audience into buying him a single malt to soothe his ailing larynx. It certainly seemed to do the trick as he effortlessly led the band through a set that kept the entire audience entirely rapt.

After 15 perfectly poised songs, we probably couldn’t have reasonably asked for any more but the band saw fit to circumvent the curfew they’d already broken by unplugging their instruments and playing the final two numbers of the night unamplified in the centre of the room. I’ve no doubt whatsoever that this is a trick they regularly pull out of the bag rather than the impromptu gesture it ostensibly was but it was still absolutely magical. An unforgettable end to an exceptional gig.

What a fabulous band. And they’re back in town in a few weeks, too.

Special thanks to Howard, the band and all at the Deaf Institute for facilitating this recording and, of course, much respect to Hey Manchester for another memorable night.

Stream “Ghost of a Dog>Tramps”:

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Setlist:

Imperial Lines
Laid Up In Lavender
Honesty
On a Certain Night
The Lighthouse
Let Me Fade
Telephone
Chestnut Sunday
Heaven’s Sake
Ghost Of A Dog>Tramps
Under Glass
Pillion
Ringing The Changes
Fear of the Dark
True Love
Monkey
Hungover

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

Richmond Fontaine at Bury Met 3 May 2012

10 May 2012 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , , ,
photo (c) Roger Liptrot

Richmond Fontaine: we love them. Everybody loves them. A collection of beautifully simpatico musicians fronted by a songwriter/novelist who apparently has a hotline to the very soul of America: what’s not to like?

With Willy Vlautin’s third novel winning rave reviews and literary prizes across the board and his first being eyed up by movie producers, one wonders how long Richmond Fontaine will be playing the intimate shows in which they excel. That being the case, there was no way we were going to miss this show: Willy and guitarist Dan Eccles playing as a duo and topping an amazing bill that also saw sets from Richard Buckner and Peter Bruntnell.

The band’s current album remains 2011’s The High Country: an ambitious, desolate collection of songs which was effectively a Vlautin novel set to music. After a highly acclaimed tour that saw the full band perform the entire LP in order every night, this short series of duo dates must come as light relief to the two guitarists. Not that the songs stray far from Willy’s trademark tales of hope glimmering in the shards of lives shattered by bad luck and worse decisions.

Eccles and Vlautin played a great career-spanning set in front of the partisan audience and ended the night by bringing the two support acts back to the stage for an eclectic trio of covers. The sound in the venue (once known as the Derby Hall, and scene of the legendary Joy Division riot, as if we needed to remind you) was immaculate and I think our board & mics recording captures it beautifully. It’s not a typical RF show by any means, but we’ve got plenty of those in the Manchestertaper vaults – let us know if you’d like us to post more of this fantastic band.

This show was a Mr Kite Benefit and we would respectfully request that you visit his site and consider making a donation to one of his good causes after downloading the recording. Special thanks go to Rich, Mr Kite and Terry, Nathan & all at the Met for a great gig and helping us make this recording.

Stream “Always on the Ride”:

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Setlist:

We Used to Think the Freeway Sounded Like a River
The Boyfriends
Lost in the Trees
Postcard from California
Don’t Go Back There
I Fell into Painting Houses in Phoenix, Arizona
Ruby & Lou
Let Me Dream of the High Country
Postcard Written With a Broken Hand
43
Always on the Ride
The Kid From Belmont
Incident at Conklin Creek
Postcard Postmarked Phoenix, AZ
Lonnie
Making it Back
You Can Move Back Here
Still Looking For You
I Can’t Hold Myself in Line
Candy-O

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

Simone Felice Band at Deaf Institute, 16 April 2012

23 April 2012 by · 1 comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: ,
Simon Felice Group at Deaf Institute
photo by manchestertaper

 

We knew that this would be a special show but even with our expectations primed by a slew of already-classic albums and universally glowing notices for his first solo LP proper, I don’t think anyone could have anticipated the astonishing show that Simone Felice turned in with apparent ease last Monday night.

After Simi Stone’s riveting support slot set the scene, Felice and his band took the stage and played an hour and a half of literate, heart-breaking, life-affirming music that took in most of the (fantastic) new album alongside selections from both the Duke & the King and Felice Brothers back catalogues plus the obligatory crowd-pleasing covers.

Although his writing frequently taps into the seedier side of life and he specializes in tales of the helpless and hopeless, Simone does so in a way which is never maudlin and his stark character sketches lend his protagonists a depth and realism that cannot fail to move the listener.

Already almost a mythical figure himself and blessed with a voice and stage presence that never fails to do his unique songwriting justice, Simone Felice left no-one in any doubt that they were witness to an uncommon talent at the very top of his game.

I very much doubt I will see a better gig this year. The recording we present here is one of our best; Simone was gracious enough to let us record both from the soundboard and with ambient mics and we have mixed the two together to give the best possible approximation of the heady atmosphere of the night.

Stream “The Morning That I Get to Hell”:

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Setlist:

1. New York Times
2. You & I Belong
3. Summer Morning Rain
4. Charade
5. Shaky
6. Stormy-Eyed Sarah
7. Don’t Wake the Scarecrow
8. Gimme All You Got
9. If You Ever Get Famous
10. Hey Bobbie Ray
11. The Morning That I Get to Hell
12. Dawn Brady’s Son
13. Radio Song
14. Wish You Were Here
15. One More American Song
16. Your Belly in my Arms
17. Knocking on Heaven’s Door

 

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

Laura J Martin at Dulcimer, Chorlton, 22nd January 2012

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

What can we say about Laura J Martin? Having heard her intricate, layered records we were somewhat surprised that she played this album launch with only a percussionist in tow. And only used him for two songs.

Feeding vocals, flute, mandolin, keys and a kalimba through a loop station, Ms Martin built up some dazzling textures that, unlike the work of some loop station devotees, always served the songs’ purposes rather than being used as purely novelty or embellishment.

And songs like these need no novelty effects to capture the imagination. Although her vocals might invite lazy references to Kate Bush and Joanna Newsom, there is something quite singular at play here: while the instrumentation and some of the subject matter conjure a very English rustic folkiness, there’s also a deep seam of oddness and otherness in these songs that pushes them into a territory that is very much their own.

Her set took in a good chunk of debut LP The Hangman Tree as well as a brand new song (“as fresh as your Sunday socks”) and culminated a colossal, dizzying cover of Kathy Smith’s It’s Taking So Long. I must confess ignorance of this particular song but I’m pretty sure the original cannot have sounded anything like this spiralling psychedelic layering of beats, mandolin, flute and vocal tics.

We got a great audio recording and a two-camera video recording of the whole gig and look forward to catching her set at the Sounds From the Other City festival in May.

Stream “Spy”:

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Setlist:
Doki Doki
The Lesson
Fire Horse
Tom
Jesse
Sour Grapes
Spy
Salamander
It’s Taking So Long

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

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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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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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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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.

Durutti Column at Quays Theatre, Salford Lowry, 24th January 2010

25 January 2012 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , ,
photo courtesy of Simon Whitehouse

Vini Reilly marked Tony Wilson’s passing with the remarkable “A Paean for Wilson” LP. With a nod to AHW’s baldly stated appraisal of Vini’s vocal talents, the work was entirely instrumental and allowed Reilly to deliver some of his most emotive and accomplished playing to date.

It was only right and proper then, that the band should find themselves in Tony’s home town, on the 24th of January, no less, performing the album in its entirety in a quasi-classical atmosphere.

The band assembled for this performance was Vini accompanied by Durutti stalwarts Bruce Mitchell and Keir Stewart alongside returnees Tim Kellett and John Metcalfe with Poppy Morgan on keyboards.

Durutti fans will be familiar with the informal and occasionally chaotic nature of some of their gigs with Reilly’s self-deprecating humour and occasional bum note juxtaposed with his astonishing virtuosity. Tonight was something different. From the opening, jolting, looped sample of Wilson’s voice to the dying echoes of the final notes, this was an intense, focused and polished performance and stands as much a tribute to Reilly and Mitchell and their utterly unique band as it does to the mercurial Mr Wilson.

The recording itself is lovely: one of those nights were the PA sound, the mic position and the audience all work together to create something very special.

Stream “Requiem”:

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Setlist:
Or Are You Just a Technician?/Chant
Stuki
Along Came Poppy
Brother
Catos Revisited
Quatro
Duet With Piano
The Truth
How Unbelievable
Requiem

If you download and enjoy this music, we would fully expect you to support the artists by delving into their back catalogue and attending their gigs. Further Durutti info can be found at the following, excellent, website: www.cerysmaticfactory.info and several of their releases can be bought directly from www.kookydisc.co.uk.

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