AN EVENING WITH THE ROBOT HEART - CELLA BAR, HOVE - 1/9/06
Never mind big one off stadium gigs and tours - its often the small, monthly live music nights in cities up and down the country that are really the beating heart and truly creative core of local music scenes. For example, for the alternative and quiet folk here in Brighton there is the sublime, stripped down Bleeding Hearts night - held each month at the Prince Albert. But now it appears we have a lovely new night at the intimate Cella Bar to look forward to. So whats the plan? Well, hosted by local band The Robot Heart - each month will see a performance by themselves, as well as two other bands / artists handpicked by members of The Robot Heart. Sounds promising, so lets see what?s on offer on the first night.
To get things underway we?re all treated to a lesson on just how to play guitar properly - courtesy of local duo -A+M. Armed with an acoustic guitar each, they play a set of instrumentals that are simply mesmerising - the two guitars working in harmony with one another to produce some wonderfully atmospheric pieces of music. What they?re doing could loosely be described as folk, although it veers from sounding at times like an acoustic Mogwai, to a 21st century version of folk guitar heroes Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. Mightily impressive.
The tiny Cella is by now crammed full to witness a rare performance of experimental, twisted folk from the man known as Birdengine. With only his nylon stringed guitar and unusual voice he creates an eerie, pastoral soundscape - his songs bringing alive mysterious tales of cutting heads off dogs, being alone in the woods at nightfall, and living with beasts. He cuts a lonely, fairly awkward figure onstage - eyes closed and totally lost in his own musical world - and that?s a wonderful thing indeed. At times the music and vocals have hints of an acoustic Thom Yorke - although not even Yorke himself could create music this odd without playing with his laptop. Be sure to keep a lookout for Birdengines forthcoming ?Fed Thee Rabbits Water EP? as it promises to be something very special indeed.
Finally its the turn of our hosts, The Robot Heart - who in the past months have been slowly building up a small army of local fans thanks to some glorious live shows. The four piece feature guitar, bass, keyboard and cello - and a gorgeous noise they create with them too. Classed as mellow indie gospel, with stunning 3 part male / female harmonies - keyboards chime, guitar gently strums and the cello weaves its haunting beauty - and everyone?s transported briefly to a place where everything in the world is actually quite alright. Despite this, the songs still have an element of sadness involved - but its sadness in the best possible sense - like the universe has throw all it can at you, but your still here. Watch out - it?ll get you in the end.
Not bad for a first night then, and one which promises a lot more in the future, especially with the coming months bringing performances from Jane Bartholomew and the Diamond Family Archive amongst an array of other local gems. Quite simply ace.
Ian Chambers, Sept ?06
www.myspace.com/birdengine
www.myspace.com/therobotheart
Never mind big one off stadium gigs and tours - its often the small, monthly live music nights in cities up and down the country that are really the beating heart and truly creative core of local music scenes. For example, for the alternative and quiet folk here in Brighton there is the sublime, stripped down Bleeding Hearts night - held each month at the Prince Albert. But now it appears we have a lovely new night at the intimate Cella Bar to look forward to. So whats the plan? Well, hosted by local band The Robot Heart - each month will see a performance by themselves, as well as two other bands / artists handpicked by members of The Robot Heart. Sounds promising, so lets see what?s on offer on the first night.
To get things underway we?re all treated to a lesson on just how to play guitar properly - courtesy of local duo -A+M. Armed with an acoustic guitar each, they play a set of instrumentals that are simply mesmerising - the two guitars working in harmony with one another to produce some wonderfully atmospheric pieces of music. What they?re doing could loosely be described as folk, although it veers from sounding at times like an acoustic Mogwai, to a 21st century version of folk guitar heroes Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. Mightily impressive.
The tiny Cella is by now crammed full to witness a rare performance of experimental, twisted folk from the man known as Birdengine. With only his nylon stringed guitar and unusual voice he creates an eerie, pastoral soundscape - his songs bringing alive mysterious tales of cutting heads off dogs, being alone in the woods at nightfall, and living with beasts. He cuts a lonely, fairly awkward figure onstage - eyes closed and totally lost in his own musical world - and that?s a wonderful thing indeed. At times the music and vocals have hints of an acoustic Thom Yorke - although not even Yorke himself could create music this odd without playing with his laptop. Be sure to keep a lookout for Birdengines forthcoming ?Fed Thee Rabbits Water EP? as it promises to be something very special indeed.
Finally its the turn of our hosts, The Robot Heart - who in the past months have been slowly building up a small army of local fans thanks to some glorious live shows. The four piece feature guitar, bass, keyboard and cello - and a gorgeous noise they create with them too. Classed as mellow indie gospel, with stunning 3 part male / female harmonies - keyboards chime, guitar gently strums and the cello weaves its haunting beauty - and everyone?s transported briefly to a place where everything in the world is actually quite alright. Despite this, the songs still have an element of sadness involved - but its sadness in the best possible sense - like the universe has throw all it can at you, but your still here. Watch out - it?ll get you in the end.
Not bad for a first night then, and one which promises a lot more in the future, especially with the coming months bringing performances from Jane Bartholomew and the Diamond Family Archive amongst an array of other local gems. Quite simply ace.
Ian Chambers, Sept ?06
www.myspace.com/birdengine
www.myspace.com/therobotheart
posted by ianc21 at 5:24 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home