Other Reviews

08/12/2009

Lau Live

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Bristol 4.12.09

This may be greedy, seeing as Lau have been nominated for 'Best Group' and 'Best Live Act', but hang on, where's 'Arc Light', for 'Best Album, in the current BBC Folk Award nominations and criminal oversight of the year, where is 'Winter Moon', surely the best original track. The latter is played early on here in a stunning set, the tender words and wistful chord progressions haven't lost any of their power since it's release.

The whisper/roar dynamic is important to Lau and tonight’s rather overcooked PA just adds to the raucous elements. Each crescendo is built from a speck of rhythm before hurtling towards a feverish high. But it's a trick they can repeat without painting themselves into a corner. The torrents of melody have the crowd yelping and dancing up and down the aisles. 'Sea' is a great example but see them before any sort of irreversible repetitive strain injury sets in!

'Horizontigo' sounds akin to Calexico and Michael Nyman having formed a songwriting team and decamped to the Highlands (yes, even though it's about the flatlands of East Anglia) - The Nyman comparison might have some legs as well - The same as he has done with classical music, Lau have achieved with folk, by deconstructing centuries of the stuff and rebuilding it with a fresh impetus and influences. It's quite a feat, but what players: Martin Green, turns out to be the Thurston Moore of the accordion, evidenced by him nonchalantly jamming his fist on to the keys, or wiping them with his sleeve, before thumping out a beat on his long suffering gaffer-taped instrument. Then we have Aidan who'll take his fiddle from bebop fluidity to spiky in a heart beat. And Kris, the powerhouse guitarist with the velvet voice. All get to be the anchor as well as chief shredder which keeps the crowd's eyes moving like it's a tennis match.

Gigs can be momentous for many reasons but they can only be truly great when the musicians can deliver and this evening everything clicked into place.

'Arc Light' is virtually picked clean, but no 'Dear Prudence', even with The Bootleg Beatles playing next door. Still, the retro saddoes can keep their Fab Four, this is the place to be, in here with Lau and the gig of the year.

David Kushar

Check out Lau's video for 'Winter Moon' and a live performance of 'Sea' on our video channel HERE

www.lau-music.co.uk/