Crayola Lectern: Disasternoon
CD | Vinyl | DL
Out now
Crayola Lectern’s third album got here out just lately. Keith Goldhanger has a bit catching as much as do.
It’s a heat Friday night in East London and a person we be taught is known as Chris Anderson is sitting at an upright piano accompanied by a person known as Al Strachan on electronics, wind and percussion. Half an hour earlier, the identical Chris Anderson is offering guitar and backing vocals in a duo known as La Mômo, alongside his spouse Sadie who can also be taking part in guitar, singing and hitting a flooring tom in a most agreeable means. It’s apparent that not less than one in all us within the room must brush up on his causes for being right here. What we’re being entertained by isn’t simply good, it’s nice.
Copies of the just lately launched Crayola Lectern album, Disasternoon, sit on a desk by the door. The venue is The George Tavern the place we’re used to seeing bands that can both disappear as quick as they arrive or return on our radars as soon as songs get recorded and performed on the radio, resulting in appearances contained in the bigger and extra established venues throughout the capital. Headliners Crayola Lectern are right here to play us tracks from Disasternoon, an album we uncover just a few days later is as soothing to hearken to at residence that it’s to witness reside. Typically it’s simply as necessary to be late to a celebration than to to not attend in any respect.
Chris Anderson’s title is related to an inventory of acts that might fill this web page. He’s a multi-instrumentalist concerned in dozens of bands we’ve heard of earlier than however have little data of their music (all of us have them). We’d have all crossed paths over the previous few years we’re positive.
Tonight, we’re focussed on his candy voice and the tinkling of the ivories on the rickety piano sitting on stage. All the things else for the second will be brushed to 1 aspect. The efficiency is gorgeous.
The comparisons we come out with every week or so after being launched to Crayola Lectern’s music don’t match these supplied earlier than this night although. Supertramp, Mercury Rev and Grandaddy are the primary two bands we begin listening to. A extra laid again and stripped-down Flaming Lips comparability comes later. “Kicking across the foothills of psychedelia” are Anderson’s personal phrases to explain his music.
Disasternoon was made with a core of Anderson, Strachan, drummer Damo Waters and Bic Hayes (Levitation, Darkish Star, Cardiacs). Produced by Anderson himself, that is an album that’s taken round seven years to finish. It’s a restrained, attractive piece of labor ideally made for many who discover themselves needing one thing to calm themselves down after an extended day of rowdy, thrill a minute leg shaking bangers.
Title observe Disasternoon may sit alongside plenty of Mercury Revs’ early music however lacks any noise and chaos, sustaining a cushty listening expertise. Opening observe Unhappy Cornetto, with it’s sluggish and, certainly, unhappy piano introduction, units the temper for what’s to comply with. All through the album, the music feels restrained, fragile and delicate. Even the vocals are set low within the combine to offer every tune loads of room to breath. There’s quite a bit happening in each bit of music on this however nothing too overpowering; it’s a simple hear, a cushty, uncomplicated journey from starting to finish, led by Anderson’s piano taking part in and with percussion on every track stored at a minimal.
One may think about The Sky Over The Sea being performed on a crackling outdated gramophone participant if it wasn’t for the shortage of floor noise and common vinyl defects one couldn’t keep away from all these years earlier than the digital revolution. Greater than as soon as, you could possibly be forgiven for anticipating the acquainted voices of Lennon or McCartney to hitch in with the singing.
That is as rowdy as Robert Wyatt, whose spouse Alfreda Benge supplied the paintings for this album. It’s good music to hearken to within the pouring rain or late at night time if you want one thing to calm you down.
Attempt it. Chances are you’ll be as moved with this album as one or two of us have been just lately.
And there’s a theremin on it which makes it much more beautiful.
~
Phrases by Keith Goldhanger. Extra writing by Keith on Louder Than Warfare will be discovered at his creator’s archive. You may as well discover Keith on Fb Instagram and Bluesky
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