Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan / Euros Childs

You would expect anyone who names their band Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci ‘to be a little bit out there’, and Euros Childs from the pre-mentioned band is a perfect example. Along with Pete Richardson on bass guitar, cymbal and bass drum, the duo perform some crazy but comical songs about things like donkeys, new orange sandals and “The Welsh Live Aid”!

Quiet and reserved on stage, the jokes could be hard to hear if you were not trying. Childs refers to Richardson as Mr Rhythm 87, who’s “lots of fun”. Using an old keyboard that Childs found in a skip, the pair use it to produce basic drumbeats incorporating the very best in old school salsa and tango beats. Many sound like tracks that would go along with a circus or fairground (the song ‘Circus Town’ especially).

Some songs are sung in Welsh, which is great but deciphering the song titles to give you is quite a task. The Live Aid inspired track is ‘Dawnsio Dros Y Mor’ (‘Dancing Across The Sea’), a great song but hardly understandable to those of us too lazy to pick up a second language.

A track from new album ‘Miracle Inn’, ‘Outside My Window’ is an observant view of many things seen through the privacy of a window. ‘My Country Girl’ is about a two-year old’s joy at receiving some new orange sandals (“Sandalai”). The best and craziest song is ‘Look At My Fridge’ (who’s name was changed to ‘Look At My Boots’ twice; but it’s just not catchy enough) where everything is cool, all the more cooler for the plonky keyboard and space-inspired sound effects.



There are a few cock ups but the lads don’t care. They ain’t producing a masterpiece here, just some quirky comical folk indie. You either like it or head to the bar until the next set...

Which happens to be ex-Belle and Sebastian member Isobel Campbell and ex-too many to list Mark Lanegan. The main draw to this near-on sold out show could be both the leads, or just to witness the pairing in action.

A few songs happen with not a word from anyone (they are introduced by the promoter but the band do not speak). That is until someone shouts “Hello!” Campbell says hello, but informs us that Lanegan does not speak. Should be a quiet gig all round then, as Campbell sweet tones are whispered even maximum level, and Lanegan utters not a single word. I saw him with the Soulsavers a fortnight ago, and not a word then either.

Not that this hides any of the talent from these two. Both dressed in black and holding the microphone in a mirrored fashion, the pair’s distinctive vocals were made for each other; Campbell’s soft, velvety whispers and Lanegan’s whisky and forty-a-day weathered tones. Some will say they look like Beauty and the Beast; Campbell like a sixties girl and Lanegan the dark and moody grunge guy (for the record I happen to think Lanegan is in no way a beast), but on stage look every bit the duo. Maybe it could be quirky and cool?


The shame is that there is just no banter at all from them, they do not talk or nod to each other throughout the set. Lanegan leaves the stage a couple of times to let Campbell sing a few of her own tunes (like ‘Saturday’s Gone’), but it is silent between songs. This could mean that they are professionals and already know what is happening, as I can not believe that they would embark on this pairing as a push from record companies. As mentioned before, I believe Lanegan is always quiet within his many collaborations, and Campbell is just quiet anyway (she could be speaking and we may not be able to hear her!).

Campbell is also quite childlike, spilling a can of Red Bull onstage see states “I had a little accident” before finishing the can off and licking her fingers. Very classy! Also when her v,i>oice fails to reach certain high notes during one song, we are told that “It’s ok for Mark to smoke B and H but it doesn’t work for me!”



Much of the set is made up of tracks from ‘Ballard Of The Broken Seas’, many tales of dark happenings; murders, lost love sang to some pretty jolly folk arrangements. Campbell has done well with these songs, keeping Lanegan in mind when writing by using a slight country feel in some tracks and the rest dark and suited to his unique voice.

‘The False Husband’ is a creepy tale of a man wanting to kill his wife, and there’s more circus themed music with ‘The Circus Is Leaving Town’. ‘Deus Ibi Est’ with just Jim McCullough on guitar, is the best example of Lanegan providing the deep storytelling vocals of the verse before Campbell springs in with the floaty chorus. Lanegan’s own track ‘Revolver’ shows he should write more music these days.

‘Honey Child What Can I do’, and ‘It’s Hard To Kill A Bad Thing’ nearly complete a set covering the entire album, but there are a few new songs played tonight. The audience love the covers though, mainly about travelling men (‘Ramblin’ Man’ by Hank Williams and ‘Sand’ by that other similar couple Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood).



The heat in this old building was sending me to sleep (these graded buildings should be able to get some cooling devices in, not necessarily air-conditioning because that equals climate change and equals more warmth, but maybe some open windows?). Campbell comments on the heat, but she has been rushing around on stage playing many instruments (cello, keyboard, tambourine, bells, kaos pad!).

This show was ok to get a live glimpse of the album ‘Ballard Of The Broken Seas’. I did not like it when Lanegan was singing high parts, his voice is not suited to it (though he did not hit a bum note all night), but the pairing works well. Let’s hope the new songs we heard tonight signal a new album in the near future.

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.