(Morning Star, Friday 30 November 2007)
LIVE: Kate Nash
Manchester Academy
THERE'S something about Kate Nash. The London chanteuse with a nice line in youth culture has been the big hit of the year and she really seems to be riding the wave all the way to proper music success.
Coming onstage to Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Nash is all wide eyes and auburn hair, with a vulnerability which is abundantly appreciated by the male fanbase in attendance.
Blokes of all ages are rapt with attention tonight as this most girlish of singers peddles her off-kilter tales of love in a time of Big Brother and text messages.
With a cinched-in waist, it's clear that fame has brought with it the identikit publicity machine. Now aged 20, there's no evidence of the puppy fat that she wore so well earlier in the year and, with it, has gone a little of her idiosyncrasy.
The stage is set up like Auntie Ethel's front room, resplendent with faux flowers and cheesy seaside ornaments, but it all adds to Nash's quirky stage show as she takes her seat at a piano swathed in red velvet and decorated with a massive bow.
Kicking off with the infectious Mariella, a song about a girl who glued her lips together to live in her own world, each song is heralded by raucous cheering from the capacity crowd.
The girl who has been cast in Lily Allen's mould flirts shamelessly, batting her eyelashes at her fans but, in truth, her sweet naivety and quaint storytelling often put her a margin above Allen's cynicism.
A case in point is the nursery rhyme-like Mouthwash, soundtracking an impromptu audience dance contest, then the one everyone's here to hear, Foundations, which, on record, is a surprisingly emotional song but which loses all subtlety in the live forum.
For all her sweetness, Nash's youth appeal is clearly massive. She does, after all, speak the same language as her audience.
Tonight's appearance is marked by a substantial leap forward in confidence, but the cutesy girl act is growing a little tired for someone who is now clearly an adult performer.
Nash is not, as her album title suggests, Made of Bricks, but she should take care not to look like she's made of fluff.
Friday 30 November 2007
Friday 9 November 2007
Calm follow-up
(Morning Star, Friday 09 November 2007)
ALBUM: Nine Black Alps - Love/Hate
(Island)
THE unrefined rocking Nine Black Alps of the first album had a thorn in their side.
They were the younger, sharper Brit siblings of Nirvana, thumping out great big rock tracks with grit in their eyes.
How refreshing, then, that the follow-up is so much calmer. Really - it's a magnificent thing that the Manchester three-piece have worked their way out of rock also-ran consignment.
Their new-found maturity has led them to produce an album of thought-provoking, accomplished songs with heart, balls and - most unnervingly - melodies.
ALBUM: Nine Black Alps - Love/Hate
(Island)
THE unrefined rocking Nine Black Alps of the first album had a thorn in their side.
They were the younger, sharper Brit siblings of Nirvana, thumping out great big rock tracks with grit in their eyes.
How refreshing, then, that the follow-up is so much calmer. Really - it's a magnificent thing that the Manchester three-piece have worked their way out of rock also-ran consignment.
Their new-found maturity has led them to produce an album of thought-provoking, accomplished songs with heart, balls and - most unnervingly - melodies.
Friday 2 November 2007
Charity treat
(Morning Star, Friday 02 November 2007)
ALBUM: Various - The Cake Sale
(Oxfam Records - Vital)
THE concept of the charity album is to guilt people into buying it for the absolute right purpose - to help charities.
The Cake Sale is something of a blessing in that it's actually listenable - nay, enjoyable.
Bell X1's Brian Crosby thought of it and it's fair to say that his tuneful sensibilities are prevalent.
Couple that with the appearance of musical behemoths Nina Persson, Neil Hannon, Gary Lightbody and The Thrills, the record is a treat of the sweetest kind.
Why its British release is a full 12 months after its Republic of Ireland one is anyone's guess, though.
ALBUM: Various - The Cake Sale
(Oxfam Records - Vital)
THE concept of the charity album is to guilt people into buying it for the absolute right purpose - to help charities.
The Cake Sale is something of a blessing in that it's actually listenable - nay, enjoyable.
Bell X1's Brian Crosby thought of it and it's fair to say that his tuneful sensibilities are prevalent.
Couple that with the appearance of musical behemoths Nina Persson, Neil Hannon, Gary Lightbody and The Thrills, the record is a treat of the sweetest kind.
Why its British release is a full 12 months after its Republic of Ireland one is anyone's guess, though.
Thursday 1 November 2007
FILM SCHOOL - HIDEOUT
(AU magazine November 2007)
(Beggars Banquet)
Around 20 years ago, music fans couldn't move for bands making noises like Film School. Overwrought, distorted guitars propping up a maudlin vocal given that extra kudos because no one could quite make out the words were once all the rage.
For influences, My Bloody Valentine, early Verve, JAMC - all the miserable greats are invoked on the California quintet's third boasting an all-new line-up save singer/songwriter Greg Bertens. Hideout is a record so steeped in the aesthetics of 'indie' music that one expects Steve Lamacq will literally foam at the mouth on first listen. And he'd be right to - drenched in the past it may be, but Hideout's chock-full of delicious guitar goodness. Buy it at once, and talk long and loud about the obvious impact of William Reid's feedback-laden guitar work - it's big and clever.
(Beggars Banquet)
Around 20 years ago, music fans couldn't move for bands making noises like Film School. Overwrought, distorted guitars propping up a maudlin vocal given that extra kudos because no one could quite make out the words were once all the rage.
For influences, My Bloody Valentine, early Verve, JAMC - all the miserable greats are invoked on the California quintet's third boasting an all-new line-up save singer/songwriter Greg Bertens. Hideout is a record so steeped in the aesthetics of 'indie' music that one expects Steve Lamacq will literally foam at the mouth on first listen. And he'd be right to - drenched in the past it may be, but Hideout's chock-full of delicious guitar goodness. Buy it at once, and talk long and loud about the obvious impact of William Reid's feedback-laden guitar work - it's big and clever.
MY DEVICE - JUMBO FIASCO
(AU magazine November 2007)
(Shifty Disco)
From the second My Device's distorted vocal free-for-all bursts out of the stereo, it's clear that the British trio has listened to more than their fair share of tuneless complaint thrash-rock from the other side of the pond.
The guitar-fuelled cacophany speaks of divisive 'subversive' acts like Sublime, of which influences make Jumbo Fiasco the Marmite of this month's new releases. Some would expect opener 'Uh!' or the equally abrasive 'Life is a Blast' to be popping up on the soon-to-be-released soundtrack to Hell, but truthfully, My Device fill a valuable slot in the esteemed pantheon of Brit bands who sound like Yanks - they are starter music for emo younglings, little goths who have yet to muster the ingenuity to seek out proper music which has merit and heart to recommend it.
(Shifty Disco)
From the second My Device's distorted vocal free-for-all bursts out of the stereo, it's clear that the British trio has listened to more than their fair share of tuneless complaint thrash-rock from the other side of the pond.
The guitar-fuelled cacophany speaks of divisive 'subversive' acts like Sublime, of which influences make Jumbo Fiasco the Marmite of this month's new releases. Some would expect opener 'Uh!' or the equally abrasive 'Life is a Blast' to be popping up on the soon-to-be-released soundtrack to Hell, but truthfully, My Device fill a valuable slot in the esteemed pantheon of Brit bands who sound like Yanks - they are starter music for emo younglings, little goths who have yet to muster the ingenuity to seek out proper music which has merit and heart to recommend it.
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