Balustrade meet the Raconteurs

When I say meet, it's more in a spirtual sense than it is an actual physical sesne. Although we were in the same room as them. However we were sat in the very back row at the Colston Hall and they were at the front on stage. But, the principle is still there. At the end of the day, we shared the same space as them and isn't that what counts! (Although I doubt they were sat in traffic for half an hour trying to get out of the car park!).

On a more positive note, they were fantastic though and probably the best gig I have been to see al year. They didn't let the fact that they only have a 30 minute album stop them and proceded to noodle and wig-out their way to a quality hour and a half long set! Highlights swere a fantastic version of Steady As She Goes and a very cool cover of Nancy Sinatra's 'Bang, Bang' which they blended with Broken Boy Soldiers in a 20+ minute prog-odyssey! Support was from bonkers Norwegian 70s rockers Big Bang who appeared to have the offsring of Sarumon and the girl from the muppets on drums, but were really good nonetheless. Next up it's Billy Bragg in December - can't wait!!

Back in the studio

That's right folks, we were back in the studio this week, although not the recording one. We were back to practicing away with our geetars in the glorious surroundings of Mr Carter Sr's palatial artists studio (where we are locked away far enough from civillized folk that we don't disturb their supper or their watching of documentaries on BBC 4). As you can see from the pictures below, we didn't let our soft, callous-free fingers prevent us from creating yet more Balustrade magic and we even managed to start work on a new song (tentatively titled The Rain Brigade).

...on your stereo, maybe...

Bert jansch?
Not round my gaff squire!

Actually, I heard The Black Swan for the first time this morning, and I have to say that - on first listen - it's... deeply ordinary. Not rubbish, not brilliant, boring, plodding, dour... just... ordinary. I have to say that I expected better things.

Now, unlike Lex, I can't be bothered with all this putting-up-of-pictures nonsene (especially pics that are subject to copywrite control... :-) ) so I'll just have to write what's being doing on my stereo in recent days...

(1) Bonnie Billy - The Letting Go... fair enough, I'll give you that one squire
(2) Sparklehorse - the new one, with moutains in the title... It's bloody great, exp. the 10 minute last track which is pure delicate art-noise bliss
(3) Shearwater - their new one... again, I can't remember the title... but it's good and odd... weird voice, total disregard for conventional song structure. At times it's a bit like a Lloyd-Webber musical being played by Wilco - but mostly it;s good

Can't think of 'owt else now. I'm only posting during half time in the Chesunt v Bath City game...

On the Balustrade Stereo

This week, Balustrade have mostly been listening to...

Black Swan by Bert Jansch
Guest starring Beth Orton on several tracks, it means this album is a lot more than just a mediocre folk album with lots of good guitar work. Because of the prescence of Ms Orton it means it's basically a Beth Orton album that isn't and definitely a lot better than the sum of it's parts. If you're looking for something nice and relaxed and also quite interesting, then this is the album for you.

The Letting Go - Bonnie Price Billy.
Will Oldham is as ugly as he is talented, however he has a tendancy to put out more albums that is really neccessary (not to mention doing it under 3 different names). As such, his back catalogue is something of a minefield when wanting to get into his work. That being said, his new album is probably his most accessible since the 'Greatest Hits of Palace Music' - which was a covers album of his own earlier work. Therefore, if you're looking to get into the wonderful world of big bearded alt.country wierdos then this is definitely well worth checking out.