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Live Review
by SaschaS
27-9-2002
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| Robert Harvey in Sounds of The Music |
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Live: The Music
Astoria, London
Thursday, September 26, 2002
The Music offer nirvana on the way to perdition
The MusicThe album’s artwork on a backdrop is the only décor – later used for projections of shapes and psychedelic colours – but when a band is named The Music, we know what you are all about. And that is it, The Music is not about gimmicks, images, posing, it is about music. They might be in the centre of media interest, call it hype if you want, but that doesn’t detract from the fact they are here for their songs. Getting lost in tones, reaching chords not heard of late, descending into depth of souls, rummaging through the heart’s contents…
And, what a transformation from the self-titled album they present: the band has grown, gained in confidence, reaching the stages of sonic splendour… They are more upfront, upbeat and less psyche than on the album but touring a band maketh. It all starts with a great wallop of rocking that hinges on a dance beat, something approximating The Stone Roses, its spirit, without replicating. The band members play statically, apart singer Robert Harvey who’s sporting some moves recalling a marionette, but the crowd is getting off, the whole of stalls is one giant moshpit.
The Music are less idiosyncratic than The Coral, for instance, but there is variety that crosses several rock epochs. The band is powerful as a unit as well as individual players standing on their own: guitarist Adam Nutter provides his gilded-chords with ease and power, totally oblivious to showing-off although his shoe-gazing should be worked on; bassist Stuart Coleman is loud, precise, clear-toned and looking like he’d have a problem to buy a Lotto ticket; drummer Phil Jordan is steady and busy the way John Bonham used to be.
Now, having worked round to Led Zeppelin, Harvey’s singing recalls Robert Plant far less than on the album until second half of the set when the band launches into ‘Turn Out The Light’. ‘The Dance’, ‘Human’, ‘Disco’, ‘Take The Long Road And Walk It’ roll big from the stage with minimum introductions and expressions of gratitude. Harvey appears not comfy as a frontman but nothing beats experience.
It was all about The Music and organic sounds of four guys on the way to a personal nirvana, taking us along the way… Very enjoyable 75 minutes on a trip to all our (solo) perditions.
SaschaS
27-9-2002
The Music album ‘The Music’ is available now on Hut Recordings
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