THE R.G MORRISON - ?LEARNING ABOUT LOATHING? (Drift Records)

Is it really so bleak out there in the Devon countryside? Listening to R.G Morrison you?d come to the conclusion that, yes it certainly was. But not in a bad way - oh no sir. The bleak we?re dealing with here is of the ?uplifting, everything will be alright? kind.

Now that?s a difficult enough task to put across in a song at the best of times - but considering these 8 songs are actually the first the 24 year old R.G Morrison ever wrote, makes it very impressive indeed. As well as being his first record, it?s also the maiden release for himself and fellow musician Johny Lambs independent label Drift Records.

The first thing you notice before you even play this album is the care that?s gone into the CD packaging, with the disc enclosed in a brown envelope and sealed with a unique personalised wax stamp. It seems a shame to even open it. Eventually though you snap out of it - the seal must be broken.

As for the important part - the music itself. Upon listening it firstly grabs you at just how confident it all comes across, while production wise, less is most definitely more. Being recorded in a church really seems to add something to the overall feel of the recording - a somewhat intimate atmosphere that?s enhanced with the sparse instrumental backing of fellow musician Johny Lamb (he of Actress Hands, Thirty Pounds of Bone, The Small), as well as the addition here and there of a string section. Lyrically speaking, the songs here deal with everything from love, loss, yearning, hope and redemption. Touchy subjects that if written about wrongly can end up sounding contrived and cliched - but thankfully that?s not the case here.

Things kick off with the title track - which proves to be a great taster for what the rest of the record has in store. By means of an introduction a lonely snare drum and gentle strum of a guitar are soon joined by slow fuzz bass for the verse, and upon the arrival of the chorus so does the synth - by now we?re in distinct uplifting territory - all aided by Morrisons soft, yet pained vocals. Throughout the course of the record influences are clearly scattered around - one such being Nick Drake on the fingerpicked guitar tune ?Summer Bride? - complete with a beautifully arranged, but not overpowering string section.

An eerie one note drone and the tolling of a church bell signals the arrival of ?Funeral For a Foe?, that minus the clever production and arrangement would be an average, but noneless pleasant song. Producer Steve Grainger obviously had other ideas. In just under three minutes you get all sorts of instrumental madness built around the guitar and vocals of Morrison. Infact there?s so much going on that I wont attempt to pick it apart - just believe me - its wonderful. Listen for yourself.


Following this comes the upbeat moment of the record - which turns out to be a song apparently written about Abraham Lincoln - titled ?Kentucky?s Favourite Son?. Coming complete with hand claps and whistles - its like the world is suddenly a lovely place once again and all your troubles are lost. Strangely it sits so out of place on this record that it actually works. Wonderful.

The seven minute ?Ruder Me? is simple, beautiful and full of yearning - guitar, piano and cello being all that?s needed, while album closer ?In Out? has a whiff of summer and positivity about it - and harmonies that would make Teenage Fanclub weep into their pints of Tennants.

Right - so not your average acoustic folk record then I hear you say. Damn right its not. Inventive, atmospheric, sentimental etc. it does all the right things a record of this type should. Whether its the production or the fact it was recorded in a church - I just don?t know - but you get the impression that if you close your eyes they could be sitting in the corner playing live in your room, yet at the same time there?s? a grand, big sound to it all. Don?t worry, I?m confused as well. Sublime stuff however you look at it. Be sure to keep one eye on R.G Morrison this year - as well as the movements of Drift Records. If this is anything to go by then there?s great things on the horizon.

THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL - BRIGHTON - 18-20/5/06

So it begins - the inaugural Great Escape festival. Billed as 3 days of musical mayhem by the sea in Brighton, featuring 180 bands spread over 18 different venues. The UK?s answer to Texas? SXSW perhaps? Let?s wait and see, there?s beer to be had, and bands to be seen first.

Thursday 18th

By late afternoon the city is already a hive of activity with indie kids everywhere. Some of the haircuts are extreme, and yes, some of the jeans far too tight - almost as if the nations NME readership has congregated by the seaside. Or maybe they?re all here to see The Kooks?! By the time doors are opening for various venues, the idea of venue hopping to check out different bands soon goes straight out the window, as it becomes clear how big the majority of queues are going to be. Not to worry though, as I?m quite happy to stay put for the evening in The Zap, a small venue bang on the seafront ? with its slightly confusing array of various chill out rooms, levels, and most probably other stuff we didn?t even get round to seeing.

There?s a fair crowd gathered to witness the opening band, The Figurines - who put in an energetic and fairly entertaining set of standard indie rock tunes, at times sounding something along the lines of Modest Mouse. This being their first UK show outside of their native Denmark, they seem clearly happy and enthusiastic to be here. Not a band to set the world alight, but then again there really isn?t anything to dislike about them.

Ahh but now its time for Seal Cub Clubbing Club - a merry band of student-looking scousers who seem to be the support act of choice for the more underground bands these days. Their sound is a melodic oblivion of ideas, key changes and cosmic twists and turns, so you just never seem to know where the songs are going to end up. Ah yes the songs?all good, but memorable? No squire. As much as I like this band, I?ve seen them 3 or 4 times before and yet still none of the songs stick in your head. Like a more prog-rock Mclusky with a Graham Coxon lookalike for a frontman. Have beer and dance? Good plan!

Next up is what I?ve personally been looking forward to the most - the return of Brighton?s own The Tenderfoot. Unfortunately, record label troubles caused the band to take a break from music, so tonight is somewhat of a comeback gig for them - being their first live performance in nearly a year. Cut down to a more trim four piece, they?ve clearly lost none of their old charm and warmth as they open with oldie ?Save the Year? - and its brilliant to hear their off beat indie-folk once again. Pretty much all of their set is made up of new songs - proving the band hasn?t been slacking during their time off. Its as if they?ve found a new zest for music once again, as the new songs come across as more upbeat and cheery - the best of an impressive bunch being the brilliantly titled ?No Smoking on the Forecourt?. Has someone been listening to ?Radiator? by the Super Furry Animals I wonder? In a world where too many of today?s new bands seem to bash out what?s popular, and crave to have the right image, its refreshing and inspiring to see a band like The Tenderfoot doing just what the hell they like ? and if people happen to like it as well, then great! All that?s left to do is nod our heads in approval and utter the words "welcome back", before heading cheerily to the bar.

Packed venue, over excitable fans, stuffed birds and foliage? It can only mean those British Sea Power chaps are about. Between song bird noises, the sound of a ticking clock and church bells are all part and parcel of the British Sea Power live experience, as the eccentric Yan, Hamilton and co. blast out their anthemic, melodic indie rock. The crowd need no excuse to get into the spirit of things down the front by the time the band play fan favourites ?Spirit of St Louis?, ?Remember Me? and the sweeping atmospherics of ?Carrion?. Three brand new songs are also given an airing that on first listen sound faster, darker and louder than the material from their previous record ?Open Season?. The unpredictable nature of their live shows are summed up perfectly when one minute the band is playing one of their slower numbers ?Lately? - the next there?s a dancing tree on stage. Or perhaps it?s a person covered in twigs and leaves? I guess we?ll never know. By now it?s all kicking off in proper BSP fashion - guitarist Noble hurls himself - complete with guitar - into the crowd, and soon enough the stage is stormed by a mad bunch of eager fans. The last you see is a stuffed peregrine falcon being tossed above our heads, and Hamilton disappearing into the mass of people and bodies. And then they?re gone - safe in the knowledge of having masterminded another jubilant and utterly brilliant hometown show. The perfect end to the first day ? judging by this madness, the rest of the weekend sure has a lot to live up to.

Friday 19th

After an afternoon sheltering from the wind and rain in the pub (how convenient), it?s off to the tiny Freebutt for more action. Yes its small - infact you could probably fit more people in the front room of your house - but that?s why we love the place.

It?s by no means packed, but there?s still a sizeable crowd to see local lads Mike Rosenberg Band. It becomes apparent that most of the early birds have come to see them, as the majority of people seem to leave after their set. What did they sound like then? Well, think James Blunt with less annoying songs and a fancy for the odd electronic sound-scape and synth bleep here and there. Smoothly does it. All very nice melodic songs that are well put together and would by no means sound out of place in the charts. If you like that sort of thing, then Mike Rosenberg might just be what you?re looking for.

Time now to hear what Canada has to offer the festival, or to be exact The High Dials - who have been busy slowly making a name for themselves over here with some uplifting live shows. Luckily, we?re not to be disappointed as they pack in a storming half-hour set full of feel-good-harmony filled psychedelic rock - with more than a nod here and there to the Flaming Lips and Grandaddy. Be sure to check out their latest single ?The Holy Ground?, which on this evenings showing is going to be a real cracker. Impressive stuff indeed!

Now the next band - as some drunken chap kindly pointed out - are rather rocking, with a singer who has a similar stage presence and vocal style to Jarvis Cocker. Time to check out Scissors For Lefty then and see if they pass the Pulp test. Hmm, slightly quirky keyboard driven pop, and yes the frontman oh so wants to be like our Jarvis - but to no avail. I'd imagine his school report for music would state "must try harder". Still, that aside - they put in a very energetic performance, which starts sounding promising but soon trails off and begins to sound just a bit too predictable and formulated. Zane Lowe would love it! The small crowd seems to like them anyway judging by the random outbreaks of dancing. Not bad then - but not exactly good either.

Onto the main reason why we?re here?to once again see the brilliant Electric Soft Parade. And before you ask, no they haven?t split up - and those in the know will tell you they have bags full of new songs, a new found confidence and generally seem a lot happier now they?re free from any major record label pressures. Oh yes and their drummer Matt Priest used to be in Dodgy - fact. The whole band seem in good spirits and are on fine form - the White brothers Tom and Alex fresh from mammoth tours with Brakes, while bassist Matt Thwaites has been busy playing and recording with his other band Restlesslist - so this probably explains the total lack of a setlist - its literally play what you remember. The sets scattered with mainly new songs - the best being the dark, chugging psychedelic opener ?The Captain?, and the sublime dual guitar / vocal catchiness of ?If That?s the Case Then I Don?t Know?, the latter being the sort of tune that deserves to be released as a future single. A great reception is always given to their older songs, and it was no different when they break into old number ?Biting the Soles of My Feet? - which brought about a classic moment of the like has surely never before been seen in the Brighton music scene. As the song gets going, a slightly over enthusiastic, beer fuelled fan promptly opens an umbrella and proceeds to jump around for the duration of the song (was this a Crudge?). Nothing like a bit of fist pumping umbrella action to get the crowd going eh?! Back to the songs and ?Human Body? EP tracks ?A Beating Heart? and the six-minute space orchestration of ?Everybody Wants? are given an outing, and despite one heckler shouting for ?There?s a Silence?; he?s left disappointed as they play ?Things I?ve Done Before?. Despite no plans for an encore the crowd are insistent, and eventually the band give in, as Eamon Hamilton (yes, he of Brakes) is called on stage to add his vocals to the 6-second madness of Brakes tune ?Cheney?. Short but sweet ? it?s all that?s needed! Seeing the Soft Parade in a venue the size of The Freebutt again is truly brilliant - and although the band themselves may be playing smaller venues now, their sound and songwriting has grown to something much much bigger. All together now "and there?s a silence when you walk?" ok maybe not.

Saturday 20th

After a day spend nursing our sore heads from the previous night, and sheltering from the extreme weather, someone drunkenly suggests trading our festival wristbands in for tickets to see the Ladyboys of Bangkok - who happen to be appearing in Brighton this same weekend. We pass on the offer in case you were wondering. It seems slightly confusing why so many people are choosing to queue in the wind and rain to get in to see The Futureheads, when you can walk straight into The Zap next door and be thoroughly blown away by one of the best bands of the year - Brakes. But then the majority must be right eh? Not a chance!

Now to tell the truth a little too long was spent sitting in the pub, thus we arrive as the first band Jackson Analogue are playing their last song. Nothing to report here then I?m afraid. As it turns out beer was needed as we stand through the next few fairly uninspiring bands. More Canadians, the Immaculate Machines lead us through their keyboard orientated tunes, with some quite tasty male / female vocals here and there although aside from that there wasn?t much to get excited about - or make you want to get your umbrella out. Think of Irish music and your thinking of The Pogues right? Ah don?t be so stereotypical - as we have here Dublin?s Channel One whose mix of electro-indie rock sounds very much like the in thing at the moment. Like The Killers minus the catchy songs.

Brighton supergroup, Brighton supergroup blah blah blah. Its time for headliners Brakes to finish the night off in their very own country-punk style, as only they know how. We know what to expect from them by now, but it never fails to be anything short of brilliant. Frontman Eamon, relieved from his role in British Sea Power and now a full time Brake, snarls his way through the songs in his own unique way - sly digs at people irritating you at gigs (?Hi How Are You?, ?Heard About Your Band?), dancing monkeys (?Ring a Ding Ding) as well a great cover of ?Shut Us Down? by Americans Camper Van Beethoven. Marc Beattys throbbing bass on past single ?All Night Disco Party? gets the crowd dancing all over the place, while the band are joined on-stage by Phil Sumner of fellow Brighton band Actress Hands to play cornet of ?Your So Pretty?. Plus, not one, but all 3 of the lovely Pipettes are welcomed to sing their duet with Eamon on their cover of the Jesus and Mary Chains ?Sometimes Always?. Recent b-side ?If I Should Die Tonight? proves to be a beautiful countrified ballad, and no doubt many a person goes away into the night shouting "SPIKEY SPIKEY!" after the awesome punk racket of ?Porcupine or Pineapple?. Funny, slightly off the wall, extremely entertaining and the best band of the whole weekend damn it! Oh an if there?s a better way to end a set than the six second shout-a-thon of ?Comma Comma Comma Full Stop? then answers on a postcard please. As is said here in Brighton?.that was lush!

To my great surprise we even manage to make it to the Ocean Rooms (and get in with no queue) to catch the last half-hour of the set by Clearlake. New rock orientated tracks ?Here to Learn? and ?Widescreen? are mixed up with a few of their older classics such as ?Trees in the City? and the epic ?Winterlight?, before finishing with their early-era-Blur sounding ?Let Go?. Pretty good all the same - but bring back the keyboards eh lads?

After this it actually seems as though the whole festival is queuing to get into the after show party at the Pressure Point - that just happens to be Club NME (aghh). Skipping past the hordes of people we head to the plush, burlesque, mirrored surroundings of the rather grand Spiegeltent to sample some old time rock n roll - and bad dancing.

So then, for the festivals first year it wasn?t all bad - although I?m sure if it returns next year the organisers will learn from their mistakes. Oh and nice weather too please. All in all, it deserves a blue peter badge for effort. Beer-fuelled fun and some damn good music for the weekend ? after all, you can?t ask for much more than that.

Ian Chambers, May ?06