Clinic @ Cockpit
By Geraldine PughA good crowd turned up for tonight's free Barfly sessions gig but there was plenty of room and it could have been promoted a little bit better because many of the genuine fans who would have paid to see these bands knew nothing of it. It's exciting times for all three bands at the moment; one being nominated for a coveted prize; one anticipating the release of their debut album and the other getting one of the hottest support slots going.
The billing was debatable, seeing the 9 piece Scots, The Delgados opening was odd when they are set to play the main stage at the Reading/Leeds festivals this year and they were the best band tonight - and that's not to say that the others weren't good! Hailing from Glasgow's lo-fi scene, The Delgados play a set composed entirely from their most recent and Mercury Music Prize nominated album, The Great Eastern. Opening with 'Accused of Stealing' it becomes apparant that The Delgados have the rare ability to be able to recreate the finesse of studio sound with the intensity of a live performance. Vocalist Ema Pollock has a naturally warm yet fragile voice and at first glance joint lead singer Alun Woodward brings to mind Jamie Theakston - if Jamie had a soul. Songs often build up into a cauldron of swirling strings punctuated by guitars a la 'Thirteen Gliding Principles' and often ending in a sole piano. The effect is almost hymn-like, music not to jump around to but to close your eyes and take in. 'American Trilogy' and 'Reasons for Silence' are perfect examples of their bittersweet charm, the melancholy of the lyrics played to achingly beautiful accompaniment. As with all the bands tonight they play their forthcoming single 'No Danger' twice for the TV finishing a set which if anything was too short. One of Britain's best kept secrets.
From nine performers to only three, next up are youngsters JJ72. Sandwiched between The Delgados and Clinic their stripped down sound is apparant but but certainly not empty. The band have been hotly tipped for a while and their forthcoming self-titled debut album is one of the most eagerly awaited of the year, added to that by a big celebrity turn-out at their recent London show things are looking good for the three-piece. Highlight of the set is 'October Swimmer' which shows the band at their most articulate, the defiant chorus with the line 'I don't need anyone' showing both their determination and vulnerability as people and a band. Lead singer Mark Greaney's voice has a Joan Baez/Bob Dylan quality i.e. You like it or you don't - at best it's the other-worldliness of Bowie at worst the whine of Brian Molko. Incredible in range it lacks in difference in tone as we hear in an acoustic version of Desertion. However, it suits the tortured lyrics and Greaney is evidently singing from the heart. JJ72 aren't the next best thing but their music cries out potential.
Finally after a lot of rearranging and sound refining the headliners Clinic appear. Despite releasing two albums in two years and being favourites of John Peel after the release of their first single 'IPC Sub-editors Dictate our Youth' their most notable move to date is being picked as support for Radiohead on their current European tour. Reverting back to the surgeons outfits which used to be more commented on than their music, Clinic's songs are cloaked in layers of garage guitar sound, Moog organ and sometimes a muffled harmony from behind a surgical mask. Clinic have a sound which can be best described by their song titles e.g. current single 'Distortions' and their 1998 release 'Cement Mixer' describing the mélange of noise. Ears strain to hear a melody coming from singer Abe Blackburn's microphone, but conventional songwriting isn't Clinic's style. Their overt non-conformism and wackiness - admirable as it is, dooms them to being indie outsiders forever because their music (the fantastic 'The Return of Evil Bill' aside) is just not easy to listen to. Inevitably they do have a few devotees who especially enjoy 'Monkey on Your Back' Clinic are the only band who get the crowd involved enough to make us believe that this is a gig and not just promotion. All in all, there was something for everyone tonight - how often do you get three good bands in one evening? Let's just hope that someone stays up long enough to watch the TV shows on Channel 4.
