Month: Jan 2020

On the strength of the two singles we’ve previously reviewed I was in little doubt I’d need to flatter Bill as he appeared at my door, beaming an eager expression and holding out “Still,” the hot-off-the-press debut album from his trio Billy Green 3. He has every reason to be excited, they’ve (Bill Green, Harvey Schorah, Neil Hopkins, Martin Spencer and Matt Clements) worked hard on this project, and it shows.

I wouldn’t give brownie points for a physical copy rather than a spotty-fly or whatchamacallit link, cause and effect of which I need to badger my daughter, as she has an account, and risk the danger of leaving a near-teenager in the house without a phone for half an hour. It just makes it easier for my old-fashioned methods. I don’t need to ask Alexa how to play a CD. But, “Still” needs not to collect bonus points.

If there’s a hard angle I could adopt, it’s that for me, the rave era bypassed any real appreciation for Britpop, which is what this is best pigeonholed as. While there were times the genres rivalled there were also experimental segments when it fused, and my eclectic tastes would always make me float the surface of any youth culture, to take in other surroundings; i.e. I’ve seen Pulp live, if it helps.

Yes, I kissed some Britpop and I liked it. That said it’s hard for me to review with precision comparisons and acute contrasts, being no expert. Simplest option is to listen, see if I enjoy it; box doubled-ticked. If this is a grower, I’ll be hooked for sure, as first impressions is impressive, without the aforementioned flattery.

What polishes that notion is the flow of it, it drifts beautifully. Sixteen tracks heavy, many are short avant-garde interludes, like fragmented thoughts, splinters of concepts. You often see this with trip-hop, like Money Mark’s Keyboard Repair. Here it’s principally experimental on the drum-looped “London,” and “Banus.” The latter rivals the crossover of the Noel Gallagher vocals on the Chemical Brothers “Setting Sun,” if only for a brief moment. Prime example of its tolerant flow; when “Banus” marches into a far woozier but lengthier, “Lose our Way.”

If these interludes splice concept album epitomes, throughout the album there’s subtle soundscapes and samples. To concentrate on the fuller tunes; it’s gorgeous, pliable indie, dipped in Britpop but wrought with all that Britpop was influenced by too, as opposed to being a tribute to the genre.

There’s certainly some tragedy to the portrayals as the genre characterises, “Lose our Way” for instance, but it drips a fresh approach without cliché. Though throughout my evaluation my thoughts immersed with The Beatles to Pink Floyd, and of Madchester to Spaceman 3. They invade my mind. The things I touched close to Britpop are nodded to here.

This could sit comfortably on your shelf with your Suede and Verve albums and not look out of place. But expect to pick out that scooter sound of eighties, of the Jam, or Merton Parkas, while contemporary indie subgenres such as lo-fi or chillwave, rather than grunge, slip through too.

As my ears wander through the upbeat “Blindside,” to the mellowed and aptly-titled “Drifting,” I ponder comparisons I’m more familiar with, and find the Who rather than Oasis, particularly with the adroit and catchy “I Should be Moved.” There’s a running theme of “why did I have to write that love song,” but it’s whirly romantic, which comes to an apex with “Love Song.”

Just launched on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, and Deezer; you could do yourself a favour and pick this up. With the production value second to none; The Badger Sect is to Devizes what Sun Studio is to Memphis, I’d rather suggest, to keep it local, you march down to Vinyl Realm, Devizes Books, Light & Sound or Mikey’s barbershop with just a fiver in hand and get Still. Get a trim too at the latter, sort your ombre-dyed indie bob out.

Do not fear though peeps, while Billy Green and his significant other two may’ve switched me onto a lost love of Britpop, I have no plans to practise my Wonderwall cover. That’s the deal though, isn’t it? Chestnuts abound with covers and tribute acts, despite we love a sing-a-long, Billy Green 3 knocked them aside like Richard Ashcroft on the let-down of a promise and produced this brilliant original material. Fair shout.

© 2017-2019 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
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Asa is coming back, this time without the Buddy Holly specs, but as himself. He brings a variety show direct from the banks of the Mersey. It was April last time we saw Liverpool’s swing singer, radio presenting, all-round entertainer Asa Murphy, he filled and thrilled the Corn Exchange with an absolutely marvellous Buddy Holly show. It combined just enough narrative but focussed on the music of this rock n roll legend, and was delivered with passion and admiration.

It was his friendship with the late Bruce Hopkins which brings him to our town. A man after my heart, though I never had the honour to have met former Devizes Town Football Club chairman, Bruce. He had an appetite for music, and when he was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, he organised a mini festival, the Patney Picnic, in his garden, and raised about £30,000 for the charity. Asa paid tribute to Bruce at the Buddy show, making a contribution towards the Cancer Research from its takings. He plans to do this again, but what can we expect from the show? I asked him.

“It is a variety show, pal,” he explained, “with all the performers and the musicians coming from Liverpool.” He brings Sandy Collins, “a superb sixties singer, very popular and with a great career of performing,” Asa continued, “plus Lennie Anderson, an excellent comic who tours all over the UK.”

“Myself, and the other acts have worked together many times on the Liverpool Empire and Philharmonic Hall,” he said, “plus on Ricky Tomlinson’s club the Greenroom.” Other than that, and, “it will be a night of singing, laughter and dancing!” Asa didn’t say much more than he does on his video dairy doing the rounds on Facebook. I watched it anyway because I love the way he says the word Devizes in that rich scouse accent!

It’s back at the Corn Exchange on April 11th, tickets are £15 from Devizes Books. While I’d wager it’ll attract an older crowd, what with it being sixties related, and it being in Devizes too (!) I’d endorse it to our younger population too, if not only because everyone loves the sounds of the sixties, far from antiquated, variety performances are very much the trend given television’s BGT et all, but mostly based on the quality of last April’s performance.

© 2017-2019 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
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I’ll hold my hands up, somebody put half an ale in one, because my guilty confession is, I’ve not yet had the opportunity to doDOCA’s annual Festival of Winter Ales. This’ll change this year, attendees will have the added bonus of me sauntering about dribbling piffle, but if I tell you what acts are appearing, it won’t put you off too much!

If, like me, you’re an apple-a-day chap, you’ll be pleased to note as it’s held in collaboration with Stealth Brewery, they’ve ciders as well as ale. Our man Andy Fawthrop tells me there’s usually ten-twelve types of cider; just enough for me! That said, when in Rome; I maybe, just maybe, open to ale conversion for the duration only. Double-whammy, to soak it up they have to pie too. Andy can’t review it though, as he’s there in a professional calibre, and I simply won’t allow anyone to review an event they helped organise ……ehm …. (okay; in-house joke if you note our last article it might, I said might, just amuse.)

So, down to me then, a harsh critic softened by alcohol. But Matt Barnard I suspect will swing it. DOCA aim to make it cabaret; Matt has performed across the world as a compere, actor, musician, singer and as himself in this unique one man show he brings to the festival.

He was the resident compere of the cult Sensation Seekers Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, starred in London’s oldest variety show in the West End in and performed his unique act at the famous London Palladium. He also appeared in the Hollywood movie Mrs Henderson Presents in which he performed the famous sand-dance with Gareth Jones. Matt Barnard has won many awards for his solo show including at the Feldkircher Gaukler Theatre Festival in Austria.

It should be noted the festival spans over Friday and Saturday (28th and 29th February.) Saturday is divided into two sessions. While Matt covers all, there’s a different act for each session; pleased to see they’re some of our local favs. I imagine half-cut real ale fans ushered out via a digital sign, like at the Oasis leisure centre, “yellow wristbands your time is up!” But attendees on Friday, for example, might not ever leave (another local joke); Devizes-own Vince Bell booked and all. We need not bio Vince, surely? His emotive lyrics, constructed from personal experience or annotations of the area are always delivered with passion, proper job.

Swindon-based folk-rock five-piece, Splat The Rat slap the Friday late slot too. Taking songs of old and giving them a modern going over, they’ve nailed many great gigs locally, none I’ve personally witnessed, but they’re high on my things-to-do list. Expect lively arrangements, singalong songs and a rousing good time. https://www.facebook.com/splattherat/

Things get complicated Saturday afternoon. An extensive cross-section of original songs and rearranged covers, It’s Complicated make them their own. Yet it’s not just what they do with It’s Complicated, it’s the way that they do it! Take it from me, it’s not complicated at all, in fact it’s simply enticing, marvellously professional, and when Jacqueline sings Etta James, oh my. https://www.facebook.com/Its-Complicated-364813334370698/

Worthy to note, if you do this slot, you could jog over to the Town Hall and catch them again, with Daydream Runaways. I’m planning to; you could carry me! Devizes Town Hall plays host to a black-tie Casino Royale evening for Just4Children’s ‘Carmela’s Fight to Stay Mobile.’ See here for details.

NOTE: UPDATE

Unfortunately, the Casino Royale night at the Town Hall has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

Back at the Corn Exchange Saturday night is all about Kris Dollimore. He’s played with many international bands and artists including The Godfathers, The Damned, Dee Dee Ramone and Johnny Thunders. He’s also a member of Del Amitri. As a solo artist Kris has toured the length and breadth of the UK & Europe performing at clubs, venues and festivals. He has also released four critically acclaimed solo albums. Kris’s guitar skills have always been admired in whichever genre he has played. A man, a guitar and a voice. With a largely acoustic repertoire, precision playing is expected and delivered, earning him a hard core following of loyal fans and admirers. Expect bluesy guitar playing, soulful singing, and foot stomping sounds. https://www.facebook.com/KrisDollimoreMusic/

I’m looking forward to (hic!) breaking my Winter of Festive Ales cherry, be there, tickets here, see if I can handle it!

© 2017-2019 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
Please seek permission from the Devizine site and any individual author, artist or photographer before using any content on this website. Unauthorised usage of any images or text is forbidden.

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Featured image by Gail Foster.

All Images by Nick Padmore, unless otherwise stated.

Reviewing my own organised event being a slightly naughty and obviously bias idea, I’d still like to notify you how it went. View this then as a journal entry of my weekend as opposed to a review, per se, and the opportunity to thank everyone who kindly offered their time to help…. 

Returned now from a frosty Sunday morning in Potterne; my son had a taster piano lesson at CJ School of Music. Andrew Hurst presented a one-on-one introduction to music in such a friendly and humble manner he was immediately absorbed, and playing a simple tune in under half-hour. It’s something I cannot help him with; not a musical note in me, but I have a fascination and respect for those who can; you knew that much.

Coincidently his lesson should be the morning after the originator of this wonderful and newly opened music school, soprano singer Chloe Jordan, held a surprised Cellar Bar spellbound. Not before thirteen-year-old piano prodigy Will Foulstone, a pupil of CJ’s music school did likewise. Will featured on Devizine back in April 2018, when a video of him playing attracted the interest of Danny O’Donoghue, frontman and pianist of The Script and coach on the Voice UK. A surprise meeting with Danny saw Will jamming with The Script at the O2 arena.

Well, our Cellar Bar may not be the O2 arena, but Will was welcomed, and his piano interpretations of era-spanning pop was the perfect opening for our fundraiser. For though it maybe a January night where the temperature nose-dived, a fair crowd turned out, in what I wanted to be a celebration of how our town can bond and support in crisis, rather than a sombre occasion. Yet with the collaboration of an assorted bunch of local acts, it reflected both moods equally, I feel. For Liz Denbury has already done a sterling job, raising £4,000 for those affected by December’s fire in the flats of Waiblingen Way. If this could top it up it would’ve been nice, but I was determined not to pressure for any contribution, as so many have already chipped in. Delighted to report then, the evening raised a further £292 for the cause.

While the Cellar Bar hosts the brilliant Open Mic nights, every last Thursday of the month, I’d wager such diversity to appease my eclectic taste buds and especially, a soprano singer casting so wonderfully into the air the sound of opera, has not been seen in the venue for many-a-year. Though accompanist Susan Braunton and Chloe best played to the crowd, and wowed them with popular offerings, such as the Frozen theme, a Greatest Show song, and an own-penned amusing children’s song, as well as opera. Best heard in a church or concert hall, Chloe won the hearts of an alternative crowd, if leaving us with a dilemma of how to follow such a class appearance.

Contrast, the order of the day. A switch to folk with Mirko and Bran of the Celtic Roots Collective. A duo who simply improve with every gig, in confidence and technique. Their brand of an Irish folk style throws known foot-tappers and rock songs into the melting pot. Through Whisky in a Jar, Dirty Old Town they rode, to traditional songs and the Irish Rover; with their help, things were beginning to return to the Cellar Bar’s usual ethos.

Unscheduled but always welcomed at our gigs, poet Gail Foster arrived with two poignant sonnets, relating to the cause and delivered with personal emotion, “You didn’t see me, right?” and “Come, Friendly Bulldozers to Wobbly Way.” Thank you, Gail, spot on as usual; I’m so glad you made it.

Time for acoustic singer-songwriter, Ben Borrill and guitar to step up to the cobblestone stage, and he did with gusto, humour and his untroubled attitude to performance. This cool and modesty grounds underestimation of Ben in some, I feel, who launched into covers with ease, causally making them his own, and it exhibited in eminence, skill and entertainment value, which was also touching, considering why we were there.

It’s no wonder our headline act looks to Ben as their choicest support act. After a few words of thanks from Liz Denbury, it was time for the band who’d been hanging around all afternoon setting up gear, to finally conclude the night. Doubtless was I, that Daydream Runaways would capture the audience with a lively finale, but with augmented professionalism since I last saw them live, they exceeded my expectation.

I was honoured, as prior to the opening, I was treated to a taster while they tuned, and retained the secret they’d cover Blur’s Song Two, for instance. It was there we spoke of future plans. Being we’ve fondly reviewed their singles, I asked whether an album was in the pipeline. It’s never a simple question in this era of changing formats, I know some hold favouritism of EPs, whereby others strive for an album. This caused a differing opinion between drummer Brad Kinsey and guitarist Cameron Bianchi, but without tension they debated the idea. Diplomacy between gentle banter displays strong unity in this Swindon-Devizes amalgamation, both on and offstage. Despite powerfully-themed tunes such as Closing the Line, with despairing narrative of the closure of the Honda Plant in Swindon, I sense unison, but figure they’ve not reached their magnum opus yet. Hold tight for that moment.

With youth on their side, Daydream Runaways need not daydream at all, and it seems plans are little more than to continue on the current path. Thoroughly relishing every moment projects to the audience for The Daydreamers, they lap it up. Frontman, for want of a better term as they’re glue, Ben Heathcote oozes enthusiasm and unveils this joyful aura over the crowd, with the talent to back it up. Meanwhile bassist, Nath Heathcote seems quietly confident of their astounding impact.

Fused with a selection of classic indie favourites, they slide in their own compositions unabridged and without complaint, as if these are equal in importance to the crowd, as they obviously are to the band. After just over a year, I honestly think they’re fast becoming so. This comes from hard work and dedication, and it really shows in this lively indie-pop four-piece. I may have high hopes for these guys, but after tonight the crowd at the Cellar Bar have joined those at Vinyl Realm’s stage at the Street Festival, and the Southgate in understanding why I crowned them best newcomer this year.

Phew, what a blinding finale to an awesome night, I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their absolutely brilliant and individual performances. I also thank the staff at the Cellar Bar, to Liz, and obviously all who braved the winter chill to join us. It’s heart-warming and makes Devizine feel actual to me to stage such events. A big thank you also goes to Mike Barham, for despite having to venture off with his band Nerve Endings and not getting to fulfil the bill this time, rolled in earlier than I to setup and do the tech stuff. With quality such as this, I’d welcome the idea of future fundraising gigs which celebrate all that’s amazing on our local scene; cheers to all, see you at the next one!

© 2017-2019 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
Please seek permission from the Devizine site and any individual author, artist or photographer before using any content on this website. Unauthorised usage of any images or text is forbidden.

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Swindon’s indie-pop four-piece Talk in Code have a new single pending, which will blow your diddy-boppers off…..

Okay, six seconds into Swindon-based anthemic indie pop darlings, Talk in Code’s new single “Talk Like That,” and these old ears are blessed with an intro which drifts me back to electronic synth-pop of the eighties. If I stated near on a year ago, when mentioning their second album Resolve, their sound wouldn’t feel out of place in a John Hughes movie, with Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall sauntering an American high school corridor, this only cements the imagining in concrete.

What you had in that era is unchartered territory; electronics in music was nascent, but cradled by the inspired it swept a new wave over yearning youth. Misunderstood by the elder generation and abused later by the hit factories, the essence of the eighties sound we typecast today was built on those early foundations, why? Because those songs were beguiling, catchy and danceable, and that’s why Talk in Code compare.

Let’s talk Simple Minds, Blancmange, Tears for Fears, yet I beg to differ to a contrast to the Pet Shop Boys on their press release, arguing their expansive success drew on a rather timeworn formula, and Talk in Code maintains an element of contemporary indie freshness. Retrospection maybe big business, this is far from an eighties tribute act. Though, akin to my comparison of Hughes’ movies such as The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink, the subject offers a romantic ‘chase,’ and as the band put it, “a feeling of longing.”

Make no mistake, this is a blooming marvellous and natural progression for Talk in Code, and I expect great things from them this year. They’ve notched up fifteen festival appearances over the UK during last summer, most notably opening the main stage for Years & Years at M for Festival and playing the main stage before Scouting For Girls at Wychwood Festival. They’ll be supporting Matt Owens (Noah and The Whale) at the Frog & Fiddle, Cheltenham on 31st January before heading out on a string of festival dates this summer including Minety Festival, Daxtonbury and many more.

But this single, Talk Like That, from a forthcoming EP to be released later this year delivers. Recorded and mixed at Studio 91 in Newbury (Supergrass, Fickle Friends, Bring Me The Horizon, Amber Run), will be released on 27th February and highly anticipated by their fans, dubbed “Talkers.” Do yourself a favour, become a Talker!

© 2017-2019 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
Please seek permission from the Devizine site and any individual author, artist or photographer before using any content on this website. Unauthorised usage of any images or text is forbidden.

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