Lord Cut-Glass / Angil & The Hiddentracks / De Rosa
Tigerfest @ Dunfermline Carnegie Hall (Saturday 16th May)
The last of the Tiger nights in Dunfermline, for me this is a testament to the mentality of Chemikal Underground. I admit it, I now realise I’m a novice in the Underground world.
Previously I was all about the Mogwai, the Delgados, Arab Strap and of course the mighty mighty much-missed Aereogramme. Tonight I’m introduced to a whole new world of Chemikaly boldness. I say boldness in the kindest sense of the word, as I believe if there was ever a label I would like to signed up to, it would be this one. Brave enough to sign bands they know might take more than one album to gain the listeners’ hearts and pursestrings, I applaud their commitment to music from the heart, soul and core of those they work with.
Beginning with a solo set from De Rosa, a tiny sense of disappointment swept in, not because of the performance nor indeed the powerful vocals. Just a big blank space on the stage where the other members should have been. The songs stuttered and although reminiscent of some classic moments in Arab Strap times, they just seemed a little too sombre and almost unrecognisable in this form. Complete with band this would likely have been a more remarkable event.
And so to the intriguingly named Angil and the Hiddentracks. French rock eh? What to expect? Well, this was certainly an eye opener, and Mickaël Mottet is a quality frontman and clearly the key to this whole ensemble. Funky indulgent jazz with a splash of rap thrown in - yet listenable, a revelation. Lyrics and chords without an ‘E’ in sight is a sign of someone with extreme dedication.
Leaving the stage with a brass-sectioned flourish Angil and crew have certainly caused a stir in Carnegie Hall and prepared the way for Alun Woodward’s full non-Delgados ensemble. For all those who miss the band, his familiar vocals are heartwarming and if you have the capacity to distance the solemn lyrics from the upbeat arrangement then you are sure to enjoy. Confidence prevails and another reason to love Chemikal Underground has shone through the delights of Tigerfest.
See video from all the Tigerfest shows at itm?’s Youtube channel
Artist Jenny Soep documented the night on canvas, live from row D - here’s what she painted:
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
Karen Dorrat
