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Friday 6th April 2012
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On Our iPod

Golden Grrrls - New Pop 7”

Chris Devotion & The Expectations - Amalgamation & Capital (album)

Trailer Trash Tracys - Ester (album)

Throwing Up - Mother Knows Best 7”

Howling Wolf - Complete Chess Masters 1951-60

The Ketamines - A Rotten Bond/1 Yr (from Oddbox Singles Club Pt 2)

Cardinal - Hymns (album)

Proper Ornaments - Taking the Gamble Out of Buying 12”

Darren Hayman - January Songs (album)

Various: Marshall Teller EP 12”

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Gig Review

Haldern Festival Thursday - Seabear / I Blame CoCo / Chapel Club / Beach House / The Black Atlantic / Cymbals Eat Guitars / David Ford
Rees-Haldern, Lower Rhine Area, Germany

Article written by Richard F - Aug 27, 2010

Seabear

The Thursday programme began with a queue a mile long for the Spiegel Tent. Haldern’s a popular destination now: it’s become trendy in Holland (meaning lots of braying Dutch Randstad-types) and you even get the odd bemused-looking British hipster. No matter, given the ethereal vibe of Haldern, the big screen in the beer garden slap-bang next to the Spiegel Tent is just as good a hang-out, even if staring at the inside and outside of the same building all at once can get disconcerting if you are feeling “existential”.

First up (and by no means existential) was David Ford, who had a hat on. Worse, his drummer wore a Stetson. (It’s just me I’m sure, but I really don’t think wearing hats indoors should be promoted). Luckily the music showed itself off to better effect. Frost is best described to those who haven’t seen him as a singer-songwriter. This status necessitated a switch of roles through the set; cheeky chap, soul-boy balladeer, tap-room soak and rough diamond… all played to maximum effect. The music – by necessity - dovetailed with these cameos; at times anthemic; at other times it was sentimental and bucolic. You could say the whole shebang was very much in thrall to the musical stylings used by Springsteen, Tom Waits or Ricky Ross. Now, these things are not really my cup of tea, but to be fair Mr. F put on a passionate show and set up a good honest vibe; what all acts opening a festival have to do I suppose. Staten Island’s Cymbals Eat Guitars were up next; a brave choice given their pugnacious art-rock leanings. Despite the math–rock elements, their record “Why There Are Mountains?” is a very good one and their Pavement vibe is respectable and fashionable enough to hide a number of sins elsewhere in their make-up. The gig was good fun, but to be honest I enjoyed the set a lot without being struck by it; or remembering any moment of import. Let’s say the gig was just a display of good music. Do you know what I mean? Following this the more energetic could go down to the newly opened Haldern pop bar in the village to see The Black Atlantic’s first gig of the weekend (yes, Haldern has a bar now).

Those of lethargic mien (basically us, some hipsters types and the drunker elements of the crowd) swanned around the Spiegel Tent waiting to get a good view of Beach House. This show of patience on everyone’s behalf was completely wasted as Beach House seemingly had no inclination to be seen. Despite having stage furniture that consisted of three large pink (cotton? silk?) wigwams, virtually everything was completely enveloped in dry ice for a good 20 minutes. Now this is fine if you’re super-excited and into the vibe, or digging the surrealistic notion of staring at virtually nothing for 40 minutes, but if you’re a punter who wants to see a band, hearing very beautiful, pastoral psychedelia whilst looking at what seems to be the top of three pink wigwams must be slightly disconcerting, not to say annoying. Still they played the brilliant “Zebra” and so all was pretty much forgiven by us. Following that in the Spiegel Tent was Chapel Club, who did their remarkably accurate take on the 1980’s. They could (or should) be produced by Stephen Street, such was the vibe of suede coats, quiffs and paisley shirts. Still, it was okay: we liked it, they made a pleasing racket and the singer has a very good voice indeed. But we all know that more is needed: let’s say we could like them a lot more - given both listening time and a more definite appreciation of the band’s personalities… The following act, I Blame CoCo turned out to be Sting’s daughter. In complete contrast to what went before, it was a personality (or rather her father’s) that completely overshadowed our judgment. Despite being nothing near our normal listening preferences, CoCo’s bouncy straight down the line pop was pretty okay, and apart from one moment where she went completely out of tune, the gig was perfectly fine, fun and enjoyable. By this time the tent was heaving and not without reason for the marvellous Seabear were about to play. Another shy and retiring soul, Sin Fang Bous didn’t so much as interact with his audience as throw them sheepish, coy glances. Still we didn’t mind, sometimes being shy on stage is fine; especially when you take into consideration this band’s canon. “Lion Face Boy” and “We Built a Fire” were verging on the elegiac, both tracks possess formidable hooks and a chugging, clockwork beat that makes them irresistible. “Cold Summer” was another moment of pure release with the strings bringing a poignancy that was nigh on unbearable for sensitive souls in the room. It was a marvellous gig and the highlight of the Thursday for us. After this Stornoway closed the evening’s entertainment with what we heard was a perfectly acceptable set, though we weren’t present to see it.

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/seabear
http://www.myspace.com/chapelclub
http://www.myspace.com/iblamecoco