The Cliffs of Insanity

‘Without Real String or Fish’
Track by Track: ‘Beyond Metropolis’ (BA)

I often think about whatever alchemy of mind and circumstance it is that produces that elusive Last Track - the one that appears when the album seems to be over.  When you think you’ve mined whatever seam of compressed life-experience, obsession and influence-cluster it is that songs come from and you’re not exactly content but applying a sort of willed gratitude that, at least, it’s not all total shite, and - a baby miracle - another tune comes into being that you really didn’t expect and that seems to have, more than the others, a character that didn’t seem to have much to do with you (a bit like your children).

I find these are the ones I tend to listen to for fun the most. They’re more like someone else did them.  Past examples include Sticky Jazz, Coelacanth, Exquisite Corpse and Hubris. On this album we got two: Beyond Metropolis and Soft Estate.  Both voyaging into new territory: with BM an alt-funk anthem in an aircraft hangar with shards of space junk flying out of the darkness at you.

The chorus being a Bowie-esque, aching sunset of chords encouching word clusters of outrageous audacity. There is - gasp- even a key change (yeah we can do that muso shit if we want) and a key change back.

The groove upon which it was built was a thing I wrote a couple of years back, I had sent it to Carl but he hadn’t - as of last summer, when my ‘we are now finishing this fucking record if it kills me’ protocol was in full effect - come up with anything for it. I had booked Stuart Rowe for the mixing; we had enough tunes; Carl had 3 songs on the album; God was in his heaven and the sun was sporting a roguish titfer. Then..

..in his fearful aspect as the demiurge of deadline bending, Carl sent a roughie I couldn’t refuse. At a stroke, the mixing (which was to have been a stately affair of considered tweaking and contemplative strolls around the elegant parterres and formal gardens of the Lighterthief estate) turned into the usual Shriekback panicked scramble as we struggled to bring the prodigal Beyond Metropolis to the same stage of development as its siblings.

Not to do so would have been unthinkable, of course: it had the word: ’Enchromosoniradiopolis’, fer crissakes.  The heart bows down.

Barry Andrews
19 March, 2015

Lighterthief’s Hard Listening

Hard Listening, the latest offering from Swindon-based music collective Lighterthief will fill you to overflowing with sonic wonderment while leaving you craving for more. The EP features three songs, none of which have any similarities or common ground except for the presence of Lighterthief mastermind Stuart Rowe, of Future Sound of London/Amorphous Androgynous fame, and XTC’s Andy Partridge, whose APE label is fortunate enough to carry the collective.

“My Dream Sea” features APE vocalist Jen Olive on lead vocals starting the listener out gasping for breath as Jen instructs you to “just breathe in and out.” You’re then blanketed with an ocean of sound that swirls and plays with your senses, and incorporates everything from 30s-styles vocalizations from backing vocalist Andy Partridge to Gregorian-style chants. An overall Trip-hop feel is enhanced by Jen Olive’s delightful vocals, her style being sexy, solid, and confident enough to experiment and play with the music.

“Running with the Mothmen” throws the listener into the mad world of Barry Andrews, ringleader of another music collective Shriekback. Stuart Rowe’s quirky and infectious guitar riff is the gentle glue that holds the song together, as swanky sax and electric rock guitar vie for the listener’s attention. Typical of an Andrews song, the lyrics engage the music, merging flawlessly with it, yet still demanding a certain attention of their own. The chaotic percussion serves only to augment the lyrics, prompting the listener to go “mad as a bag of cats” and “do what the voices say.”

The more mainstream offering on the EP is “Shining Surface.” With both Stuart Rowe and Andy Partridge pulling guitar duty, the engine of this song is revved from the beginning few notes. Sam Bates shows us exactly why he’s part of the Lighterthief Live Band with his strong, unwavering voice. The bridge is reminiscent of the Psychedelia that came out of the 80s. The song is so powerful, it literally has to be geared down before it can come to a conclusion! Both fans of XTC and Foo Fighters would definitely find this song on all their favourite play lists.

Should you buy Hard Listening? It cannot be more strongly suggested that you do. In the wasteland that the music business has created producing vapid music with little substance and a pretty face, this is indeed a lighthouse for people who love genuinely good and original music. Stuart Rowe’s production is flawless and serves only to enhance an already delightful auditory banquet. The only problem is you’re left wanting much more from Lighterthief. Be prepared to wear out the repeat function on your players. You can find Hard Listening available at the Ape House, and be sure to check out Lighterthief’s other EPs while you’re there.

- Tracy A. Evans