British Sea Power

If ever there was an award for Most Unconventional Band, like, EVER, then surely the Mystery Jets would be one of the main contenders. With six members in total, all aged somewhere between 18 and 50, two of whom are drummers, and all sporting dangerously uncouth attire, from spangly suits to Robertson marmalade man style afros, they are almost begging to be universally hated. And yet their Hope Of The States type melodies that occasionally stray into Bixler'n'Rodrigues wigout territories, suggest the likes of Radiohead really are gonna have to pull their socks up on that next album, as here is yet another new bunch of young (and old) pretenders snapping at their heels.

In the world of Chris T-T, workrate is the key. He's like the Nicky Butt of independent music, putting on festivals and gigs everywhere, laying down the foundations for his more illustrious contemporaries without ever receiving much recognition up front. Some of tonight's set is to die for, while others sound like Graham Coxon recording with Half Man Half Biscuit, and just earn a casual shrug of the shoulders. But as his guitarist Jenny Macro snaps another string, surely only the most insensitive soul could not respect Mr T-T.

It seems like an eternity since British Sea Power released 'The Decline Of...'. On their last tour of these isles an unknown band called The Killers supported them and promptly usurped them in the process. If ever there was a time when a band so unashamedly English needed to bite back, surely it is now?

If the number of tree lined jackets and branches for bow-ties in the It's A Scream bar next door are anything to go by, British Sea Power are anything but forgotten, and when the band take the stage with a rousing 'Scottish Wildlife Experience' they are greeted like returning heroes from a five year expedition in the Sahara desert.

At times this evening, as on the surprisingly muted 'Apologies To Insect Life', BSP sound like a band who've not played in the same room together for some time, while of the two new songs aired tonight, 'Elegiac Stanzas' and 'Mother', only the latter sounds anywhere near its final stages as a song worthy of matching anything on 'The Decline Of...'.

Still, there's hardly a dry eye left in the house when 'Remember Me' is dedicated to Brian Clough, while the closing barnstorm of 'Lately' is a timely reminder of the impact British Sea Power can have when they really get into their stride. Its probably best not to read too much into tonight's performance as it was clearly a dress rehearsal for what's around the corner. This time next summer, expect to see an entirely different proposition altogether.

_ Photo by Sonia Melot_