retrieved today from http://www.vacant.org.uk/live/lapsus.html
Lapsus Linguae are MENTAL. Not in a bad way, mind. But let's look at the evidence. They dress in matching T-shirts with the band name emblazoned in glittery letters, a bit like a punk rock Drifters. And yes, the bassist/singer has a bit of a Sid hairdo. But that's not the main reason for suspicions of insanity. No, you have to listen to the music - in fact, it's even more apparent on their demo which employs a full gamut of strings and other weird and wonderful instrments. That might sound familiar to you - don't Mogwai use non-conventional instruments? Mind you, so do other 'cred' bands - Belle and Sebastian, The Delgados, Emerson Lake and Palmer? Previously I caught 10 minutes of the band live and the inevitable 'p'-word (that's 'post-rock') crossed my lips, as these guys could show Slint a time-signature or 2. However, there was also a slightly off-kilter spacey feel to their music, which suggested further investigation was nevessary. Song titles likewise confirm the diagnosis - 'Pillows are for Postponement, not Prevention'... 'My Numb Left Hand The Parasite'... "nurse, the screens"!
Viewing the full set in a more concentrated way, the overall impression is of a band with punk leanings (not just their haircuts either) - a lot of shouty vocals when the tracks (perhaps a 50/50 split) aren't instrumental. But with tinkling piano and off-kilter rhythms, you think of Shellac trying to oust Richard Clayderman after a particularly acrominous band meeting.
Mention of the piano should also be made - not the most punk rock of instruments at the best of times. Lapsus Linguae work this into the songs somehow, without regard to fashion or convention, and somehow it works. The songs aren't instantly recognisabe, nor could you dance to them, but they have something which after a few listens grabs you. Easy listening it certainly ain't - and the prog rock comparisons have to be stated, though we're talking the clever end of the spectrum here. Perhaps this is how a reformed Van der Graaf would sounds? Or, with the Glasgow accents prominent, if Alex Harvey was starting out today he might sound more like this. I have no idea where Lapsus Linguae are headed, but with such a determinedly 'alternative' sound, I think they at least are quite clear. And I'm also sure they'll get there. After all, there's madness in their method.
Monday, 22 April 2013
live review - starka, motherwell Thu June 14th 2002
retrieved from http://www.vacant.org.uk/live/starka.html monday 22nd april 2013
...'banter' betwixt group and fans is integral to the show. Penelope Collegefriend enters the crowd a mere 10 seconds into 'The Strang' and remonstrates "this is supposed to be poignant!" to the chatterers during one of their piano interludes, before they explode into the massive punk-prog hybrid of 'Parade'. Unfortunately equipment and ultimately their set begin to fall apart, meaning that only some inter-band/punter wrestling and gratuitous nudity are left in their bag of tricks.
Fortunately, the audience love them too. Motherwell, rock city? Could be.
...'banter' betwixt group and fans is integral to the show. Penelope Collegefriend enters the crowd a mere 10 seconds into 'The Strang' and remonstrates "this is supposed to be poignant!" to the chatterers during one of their piano interludes, before they explode into the massive punk-prog hybrid of 'Parade'. Unfortunately equipment and ultimately their set begin to fall apart, meaning that only some inter-band/punter wrestling and gratuitous nudity are left in their bag of tricks.
Fortunately, the audience love them too. Motherwell, rock city? Could be.
Saturday, 30 March 2013
Nice things 80s matchbox' have said about us publicly
THE METRO – APRIL 2003. Probably the best band I
have ever seen in my entire life.
(Andy Huxley,
Eighties Matchbox B line disaster)
NME – JAN 2003. To hell with old rope. Lapsus Linguae are one of the only bands in Britain
I seem to remember that Mark Norris did NME m agazines overated/underated featre where we were underated and Jet (Remember them? They were getting pushed hard at the time...) were over-rated. Unfortunately noone thought to keep lcipping sof these mentions....
THE LIST MAGAZINE - DEMO REVIEW - NOVEMBER 2000
Only this quote has been retained -
If
there was any justice in the world then these people would be running the
country, not just ruling the airwaves."
(Mark
Robertson)
GLASGOWBANDS.COM - ALBUM REVIEW - MAY 02
I have absolutely no idea what these guys are on about, and I really
couldn't give a fuck, it's ace. (Andy Fraser)
NIGHTSHIFT MAGAZINE - LIVE REVIEW - JANUARY 02
Main songwriters Penelope Collegefriend and Magaloof Taylor (possibly not
their real names) come to blows midway through ‘Are We Really Dancing?’ Staged
fight or not, the pair of them have an unnerving stage presence. When this
sense of menace bubbling away under the surface is added to the frantic wall of
noise coming from the stage you begin to realize that you are watching what may
well be the most exciting band of the year. And it’s only January.
“DO YOU” PERSONAL JOURNEL - THE SVEN HUNTER LIVE REVIEW TRUCK FEST - JULY 02
Lapsus
Linguae occasionally spat huge mouthfuls of cider into each other’s faces. When
the sound engineer came onstage to stop a microphone from being trodden on they
pushed him off again. During the last song began, vocalist/bassist #2 launched
himself into the nearest member of the audience, knocked him down and shouted
in his face for about 30 seconds
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)