Monthly Archives: January 2015

01.04.15
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James Robinson – Start A Fire

Singer-songwriters are two-a-penny. They’ve got to have something distinctive about them now to really allow them to rise above the crowd. I’m not sure that, on the basis of his first EP at least, James Robinson has quite done enough to absolutely capture my imagination. But, ‘Start A Fire’, released in the frenzy before Christmas, is a pleasantly crafted EP put together by somebody with undeniable talent. I’ve played the EP to friends who like it more than me so I thought I’d bow to their opinions and write a feature on ‘Sonic Breakfast’.

James Robinson is from Devon. If you listen carefully to the way he pronounces words when he sings, you can pick out a West Country accent. In an age when it’s easier to mimic Mariah or sing as if you’re American (even though you’re from Henley-On-Thames), this is to be broadly commended. The press release that accompanies ‘Start A Fire’ tells me that James was the front man in an alt-pop band called Two Spot Gobi. Despite touring with the likes of Jason Mraz and Bruno Mars (or perhaps because of), I have never heard of Two Spot Gobi.

Regular readers of ‘Sonic Breakfast’ will realise that I’m a sucker for a song with an immediate lyric. I’m generally keen on those tunes that avoid the vague and oblique. I don’t mind having to interpret a bit and I quite enjoy some tunes that can be understood from a range of perspectives but I don’t particularly want to complete a cryptic crossword puzzle when listening. And, I suspect, that this is why, despite liking the delivery and the arrangements across the ‘Start A Fire’ EP, I’m struggling to enjoy it as much as my friends. I don’t doubt that the lyrics are personal and deeply meaningful for James but, for me, I can’t find the entrance.

It’s a four track EP. The title track bounces along to open proceedings. It’s radio-friendly with a singalong ‘ooh-ooh-ooh’ based chorus. It might be about a long-distance relationship or catching up with a friend over a recently-lit camp fire. But, despite repeated listens, I can’t be sure on that front. ‘Demons’ has a shuffling chill-out feel about it. Here, you can see why some Jeff Buckley comparisons have surfaced. Carried by a jazz-laden bass, this is surely about standing up against the challenges life can throw at you. ‘Holes In The Sky’ is a little less perky than the title track and has a lyric that might be saying something about global warming (but probably isn’t).

Here’s what James said about this EP: “At times it’s energetic and hopeful, other times it’s a little more pragmatic and cynical but creatively speaking it’s where I find myself currently – somewhere in between. It’s real, and I hope people will grasp that.”

I might fall into that group that doesn’t entirely grasp. But, I refuse to write James off quite yet. If truth be told, these are clever tunes that do grow on you with repeated listens. My friends like it more than I do as well so give it a spin and tell me that I’m wrong…..

 

 

 

01.03.15
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OBS Unplugged – Lucy Davies-Kumadiro

January isn’t an easy month for live music venues. Many of us have overspent and over-indulged in the build up to Christmas and so as a result we become austerity hermits on health kicks. We’d rather relax with cups of tea and home comforts than brave the frequently freezing world outside.

The excellent ‘Musician’ venue in Leicester has, however, found a neatly compelling way to drag me from my sofa. Now in its fifth year, OBS unplugged is the acoustic little brother of the band showcase that I featured last year here. Running over ten or so nights in January, promoter Val McCoy puts a heap of effort into ensuring that the line-ups are varied and interesting. More established acoustic based acts mix with those newer to the scene. Gems are often unearthed.

Last night, I went along to the first of the 2015 series. It was a night in which quality shone through. I bought my first EP of the year from Birmingham-based songwriter, Guy Jones which I plan to review on Sonic Breakfast in the coming weeks. I can’t actually remember the last time I bought a CD at a gig.

And then there was Lucy.

Lucy Davies-Kumadiro is a 17 year old singer-songwriter from Loughborough. Last year, she played her first ever gig as part of OBS unplugged. Everyone who saw that set knew that they had witnessed something pretty special. With a calm charm and serene style, Lucy’s delivery melted the most cynical of hearts. When I overheard a punter at Leicester’s Simon Says festival enthusiastically ranting about ‘the most wonderfully stunning artist who was a hybrid between Lianne De Havas and Kate Nash (before she got punky)’, I gave myself a secret pat on the back for already realising how captivating a live performer Lucy is.

A year on and Lucy plays OBS unplugged again. Her guitar playing has developed over the year as has her on-stage banter. Her pristine and pure voice has always had the ability to melt hearts but there’s now an added layer of soulful husk that sometimes comes to the fore. She plays a new song, only finished the night before, about how when you run it’s not always an act of running away. Lucy is following a dream and heading off to University in America in the next year. 

If you’re at a loose end an in Leicester over the next couple of weeks I wholeheartedly recommend having a peek at the listings and taking a trip to the Musician. OBS unplugged can get you through January.

 

01.01.15
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Workers In Songs – Sorry Marie – World Premiere

What better way to begin 2015 than with something brand new? Sonic Breakfast is delighted to be able to officially premiere the new video from those favourites of Danish Americana, Workers In Songs.

It’s possible that those who over-indulged last night might want to tactically delay before pressing play; if the sight of more alcohol could send you over the edge of queasiness then I post this with a word of warning. The video for ‘Sorry Marie’ charts a day in a life of excess for Workers In Songs as they stumble around Roskilde on a pub crawl; vomit, urination, fruit machines and party-poppers, this has it all. Few would doubt that here are a band well versed in those drinking days.

They might well be experts in excess but that contrasts with the core message of the song. This is a break-up tune; an apology from man to woman that he’s not able to do relationships in the way she wants. “I’m sorry Marie, I just can’t be the man you want me to be“, sings Morten Krogh in his anguished holler that I’ve previously observed “comes from an exasperated and elevated place of despair. He might have found no solace in the bottle of bourbon but that doesn’t matter because he’s now gurgling with bleach.”

Crouched over the basin of a toilet, his blond beard tainted with specks of sick, Morten has now graduated to new levels of despair. Bleach gurgling was so yesterday.

Morten, himself, explains it slightly less graphically. “As a band we really like to play with contradicting elements, whether it’s in our songwriting, album covers, music videos, or the expression in our live shows. That’s why we decided to go on a raucous pub marathon through Roskilde city. That has been combined with a mainly melancholic song about an ended relationship and newfound freedom. It is the clash between the two expressions we find interesting. A bunch of fools with a beer in their hand spend 12-14 hours in pubs around Roskilde city – combined with a frustrated song about a relationship that broke”.

There’s little more to say but to urge you to press play if you think your constitution can handle it. Press ‘play’ to begin 2015, to relive last nights excesses and to resolve to deal with your flaws differently this year.

Sonic Breakfast wishes you the very best of NYD’s.