Words: RBY, Photos: Adrian Wharton/RBY
Trail Tapes here are just one person and a guitar, he mentions a full band lineup but in the audience I’m not sure if this is a full band doing versions of these songs or another entity all together. What I do recognise is that after seeing the solo effort I’d like to see the full band. Its tight songs covering a spectrum of subjects around the wider LBGT+ area and they are performed flawlessly, with passion and a hint of dry wit. And all the while he blows us over with a powerful, mellifluous voice.
How to describe Oorya to someone who’s not caught the performance. Well there’s singing, guitar playing, techno, dinosaur support animals and spirit levels for measuring the level of spirits in a building. Oorya moves from being a firebrand preacher to a sharply intelligent observer of people and throws in some fascinating ideas. Musically the tunes provide a backdrop for the vast vocal range and a flurry of words describing the human condition.
Irene and the Disappointments have neither an Irene in the band and nor are they disappointing. What they deliver is shimmering dreamy slices of pure pop. Tonights gig with its large receptive crowd is a release party form their latest album (The Table and its Planetary Chairs) and they play most of it as their set. Their stated influences include all manner of 80s music, Cocteau Twins through to Echo and the Bunnymen and the 80s influence is big here but its mangled and re-envisioned and sculpted with craftsman musical knowledge and great songwriting.
Their songs shimmer, the vocals adding layers of melody and its all very catchy and immediate with some classy ballad moments. Hopefully we’ll review the album soon too.
Links:
Irene and the Disappointments: INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | WEB
Trial Tapes: INSTAGRAM | BANDCAMP