London
folk-rock duo's ace LP! Beautifullly sung timeless songs!
It's a good few years
since I lived in London. And to be honest I don't miss it that much.
Well that's not entirely true, there are certain things I miss about
it. Spending a lazy Saturday afternoon in a civilised London boozer,
nursing a pint, reading the paper and perusing a few vinyl purchases
is pretty much a perfect afternoon in my opinion. Red buses going
past outside as the football results come in. Ah I'm getting all
misty-eyed just thinking about it. I am at heart however a country
boy, clean air, rivers and chalk hills hold just as much appeal these
days. And I'd struggle to pay those London rents let alone have money
left for a Saturday pint or two.
There is one thing
about modern London that does make me wish it was in easier reach.
There are some fantastic bands doing the rounds there right now,
playing the capital's venues regularly. It seems today's London is
experiencing something of a purple patch with regards to grass roots
music. Thankfully I get to hear these bands via the records they put
out. Recent releases from Green Seagull, The Hanging Stars and The
Cold Spells have all hit the spot. Another name to add to the list is
The Left Outsides. Their recent long-player All That Remains
has been a Bandcamp favourite of mine over the last few weeks.
Genre-wise I'd go with
folk-rock but really they're all about great songs, beautifully sung
and played. There's a timeless quality to their album. The songs
could have surfaced in the late '60s/early '70s and would have fitted
in with the likes of Fairport Convention, Pentangle et al. Or they
could be old English folk songs from a century before. Or, as is the
case they're getting their first airings in 2018 and will still sound
fresh as the seasons turn and the years pass. The only thing that
places the songs in the here and now is a lyric that refers to taking
a bus trip in the 1970s. Interestingly this is backed by electric
guitar chords that echo 1976's summer of punk. That aside the lyrics
have an elemental, earthy yet spiritual quality.
So who's behind these
sounds? Alison Cotton (viola/vocals) and Mark Nicholas
(guitar/bass/keys/vocals) were members of The 18th Of May
and are in Trimdon Grange Explosion, another fine London band who put
out an eponymous LP last year. The Left Outsides recently toured
supporting Robyn Hitchcock. A damn fine gig billing that. Oh and
Alison also contributed to Through Passages Of Time, the ace
hauntological album by The Hardy Tree that came out a year or two
back. London, it always changes but always delivers.
