Originally and perhaps somewhat unfairly pigeonholed within the new acoustic movement first emerging in the late 1990s, South London quartet Turin Brakes seemed to follow a similar career path to many of their contemporaries.
After creating something of a splash with “The Optimist LP”, their debut garnering them a Mercury nomination, with darker more brooding follow-up ‘Ether Song’ taking things up another level, catapulting the Balham boys into the UK top 5, their high-water-mark; the half-dozen subsequent releases alas generated gradually diminishing returns, albeit from a commercial perspective.
Yet a full two years since album number eight ‘Invisible Storm’ hit the shelves, Knight, Paridjanian, Allum and Myer are still managing to pack them in on the live circuit, Brakes having carefully nurtured a dedicated cult following over the years, adoring fans those eager to revisit their collection of lovingly crafted songs, with tonight’s sold-out acoustic set at Trades Club certainly no exception. Indeed, the band seem to be at their most comfortable playing intimate shows such as Trades, Brakes’ third appearance at the famed Calderdale venue meaning they’re clearly preaching from their stooled positions to the converted; the only downside being if you’re stood near the back, you can’t see much more than four heads.
Opening with the more recent ‘Sea Change’, we’re soon back on more familiar ground with ‘The Door’, ‘Mind Over Money’ and the still alluring near-hit ‘Emergency 72’, each greeted with warm approval; the Knight and Paridjanian harmonies still as intertwined as ever, not forgetting the latter’s treacly slide guitar, coating the listener’s ears like molten rock slowly cooling, the shitkicker swamp blues overtones a key component of their otherwise post rock influenced sound, helping to elevate Brakes above some of their peers.
Despite the absence of ‘Rain City’, (me being Mr Picky again) Brakes’ sole smash hit ‘Painkiller (Summer Rain) ’ still sounds as comforting as ever, belying its post watershed subject matter whereas ‘Underdog (Save Me)’ catches me completely by surprise; I’d completely forgotten how much I loved it. Worth the entrance alone.
Words- Mike Price