If you need a breather from the perpetual cycle of cliche Christmas song mush, do yourself a favour; Paul Lappin & The Keylines released a live EP last week, it’s as “name your price” on Bandcamp, and I’ll wager my Christmas stocking and all of its contents, you’ll eternally thank me for the advice.….
On the 12th November 2021 Paul Lappin & The Keylines invited a few close friends and family to Pink Music Studios in France for a chilled evening of wine, food and live music. This EP is a recording of five of the songs performed during that session. For a tenacious link to our ambiguous local rule, note while now residing in France, Paul is originally from Swindon.
Back in October 2020 we fondly reviewed his studio album The Boy Who Wants to Fly, celebrating its vibrant Britpop rock, immersed in some astute and genius song writing prose. And in turn, we were allowed to use the outstanding single Broken Record for our Julia’s House charity compilation. For which, you might suggest, I’m duty bound to sing the praises of everyone who contributed, to which I’d reply, yeah, only partly but unnecessary, just shut up and listen to this; Live at Pink Moon Studios is utterly gorgeous.

If Broken Record packs a punch, and The Boy Who Wants to Fly meanders between forthright rock and tenderer acoustics, this little piece of wonderful revels in the latter. So much so, it smooths out of the restrictions of a label like Britpop, though subtle shards of it remain, and is comparable to acoustic folk rock from way beyond the subgenre, say, as steady and emotive as Nick Drake.
In the past I’ve made comparison to our own song-writing local legend Jamie R Hawkins, in their shared ability to twist a narrative so deeply into sentiment, tears will well; this EP comes closer to my point than I’ve ever heard from Paul. It’s so wonderfully placed subjects, wistfully glides your mind away, on the journey with Paul, like all good acoustic should.
The first two tunes, After the Rain, and Lying Awake in the Dark both come unplugged versions from The Boy Who Wants to Fly, Slow and Steady featured on his 2018 album, Move On, and I’m uncertain of the last two, Seeds of Doubt and Set in Stone, perhaps they’re new, or exclusive to this EP. I’m far from all out intending to research their origin, as it’s just to easy to be set adrift on the songs, relishing in the moment.
Morish simplicity, man and guitar composition you’ll crave it never ends, and I can honestly say, I don’t think I’ve hit the replay button with such haste before! Paul is at his dreamiest, fluffiest and virtually subterranean in his deliverance of these masterpieces.
Subjects not so unusual but handled with the proficiency to wow, of lost or found love, picking up with a bongo drumbeat and wailing electric backing guitar at track three, Slow and Steady, with a chorus dripping of anthemic Britpop, of Oasis or Verve in their prime, yet maintaining that spellbinding acoustic goodness.

And for the last two tunes of mysterious origins, are perhaps my favourites, Seeds of Doubt, is a self-analysis theme, mind-bogglingly passionate, and the parable soulful finale, Set in Stone, as is with a live album, there’s a wholesome rawness about it, echoing honesty and scrupulousness throughout, you feel like you’re a guest into a secret meeting, you feel a part of it, and that, is simply, beautiful.


Trending….

Black Uhuru UK Tour Cancelled; The Plight of International Touring Post-Brexit
“They can get no time to press,Because of all the distress that the society leads. What I’m a longing for is some happiness,” … Continue reading “Black Uhuru UK Tour Cancelled; The Plight of International Touring Post-Brexit”

Drag Me Down are Invincible; Fact!
Ah, hark the beatific resonances of an adolescent choir, in their prime; Swindon’s metal-skater-punk three-piece Drag me Down have a new single out, … Continue reading “Drag Me Down are Invincible; Fact!”

Citizen’s Advice’s Plea for Funding From Local Councils as Wiltshire Council Slash Their Budget
Do you take Citizen’s Advice for granted? For many it’s a lifeline, the first port of call for any issues rising from legal, … Continue reading “Citizen’s Advice’s Plea for Funding From Local Councils as Wiltshire Council Slash Their Budget”

Wadworth Put Best Paw Forward with Wadwoof Walkies!
Wadworth are raising money for Dogs Trust on International Dog Day with their very first Wadwoof Walkies event! On Friday August 26th, dogs … Continue reading “Wadworth Put Best Paw Forward with Wadwoof Walkies!”

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 17th-24th August 2022
Ah this is more like it, the English summer we know and love! Tad wet, but here’s what we have to do this … Continue reading “Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 17th-24th August 2022”

Really Got Me Now; The Roughcut Rebels Storm the Three Crowns
Prince Akeem of Zamunda, that’s the bugger, least the fictional character played by Eddie Murphy in Coming to America, who walks over a … Continue reading “Really Got Me Now; The Roughcut Rebels Storm the Three Crowns”

Sour Apple’s Kate Goes Diva at The Pelican
Safe to say, I’m reckoning, we’re now back to full velocity for live music and entertainment in Devizes post-lockdown, and once again, for … Continue reading “Sour Apple’s Kate Goes Diva at The Pelican”

Weird, I Find Myself Agreeing With Danny Kruger Over Station Road Carpark Closure!
It’s quite alright, you’ve not entered the Upside Down from Stranger Things, or another theoretical parallel universe. Station Road carpark in Devizes will … Continue reading “Weird, I Find Myself Agreeing With Danny Kruger Over Station Road Carpark Closure!”

You’ve Only Got Until Monday to Sound Your Opinion on the Devizes School Land Sell-off
You’ve only got until Monday to sound your opinion on the Devizes School land sell-off, the consultation ends Monday 15th August. Go give … Continue reading “You’ve Only Got Until Monday to Sound Your Opinion on the Devizes School Land Sell-off”
Intrigued by your name….Any relation? Corinne Lappin
LikeLike