December in Glasgow can be pretty grim and it had rained all day so it seemed a good idea for BM to traipse along to this southside triple-header promoted by Charlie Knox.
It was an early show as the Shack has dancing later from about 10pm, so first act Raiments were on by the back of 8pm, to a smallish but enthusiastic crowd. The three-piece band is based between Berlin and Scotland and comprises Mano on guitar/vocals, Edo on bass and Dominic on drums. The songs are quirky, mixing different beats and time signatures. They played some current material and a couple of oldies. ‘Golden Rat’ is fairly typical, with the vocals edging around the scratchy guitar, breaking into more like a jazz number then veering back to something approaching a pop song. These guys are very skilled at what they do, combining improvisational elements with song structure, never predictable. BM hopes they will make it to Glasgow again (this was their first visit).
Next up was local taiko wranglers Painted X-ray, who BM has reviewed several times before but not for a good year or 18 months. They play 4 tracks tonight, starting out with a massive taiko drum set up on a stand in front of the stage, while drummers Georgie and Alison each bashed one side of it. The other three musicians Jer (guitar), Rafe (fiddle) and Ali (bass) stood at the back. Things started fairly slowly but the beats built up into something of a frenzy after the first track. Georgie also added vocals to the next few tracks and at one point the sound was more like The Slits or the Raincoats, strange mix of plangent guitar, booming bass and squalling fiddle with the vocals chiding the listener about unnamed shortcomings! The last track split into two parts but built up quite some head of steam with bizarre words about “rabbits in their warren”, didn’t sound like very nice rabbits either. BM has to say that Painted X-Ray have a pretty unique sound and look and once seen they are not forgotten.
Bell Lungs has been a solo project for a while but for three dates, the of which was tonight, she worked with more regular band set up. So tonight as well as Ceylan on vocals, weird noises, electric fiddle and guitar we also got Alex on drums, Norman on bass and Oscar on guitar. Things didn’t off to a great start when the vocal monitor wasn’t working during the first song and Ceylan eventually gave up on it. BM is a bit unsure of the names but they did play the title track from this year’s ‘Wolves Behind Us’ EP and several others. Ceylan’s voice, manipulated by her effects boxes is a very pure and unique instrument, and soared, was cut up into electronic arcs and the whole thing sounded like a This Mortal Coil album backed by Emerson, Lake and Palmer (sorry guys but BM thinks Bell Lungs needed a straighter, tighter backing). There were some Kath Bush-esque moments as well but BM got the impression that they particular version of Bell Lungs may not be a permanent arrangement. Great screaming as well!