Natalie Prass live at Islington Assembly Hall

admin — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 10:36:32 +0000

It’s a glorious occasion when a record you love is exposed to you in a different light. Live at Islington Assembly Hall Natalie Prass lifts the gentle lilt and forlorn heartbreak of her debut album into something bolder, becoming feisty and lively in places where on record it’s sweet and lulling. There’s still a sensitivity and tingle to proceedings, but they’re imbued with rocking electric guitars and defiant stage banter, making this an entirely different experience, and one which resulted in numerous collective gasps through the night.
Usually the suggestion that an artist or band makes music that everyone will like means that it is bland or unadventurous, but Prass uses the classic reveries and structures as a springboard, emancipating them from constrictions without losing their immediacy and enchantment. A stripped back and breathy version of Fool evoked swinging and smokey caberet clubs, whilst the bouncing Bird of Prey was all r’n’b giddiness, and It Is You switched from its lush orchestration to a rocking and remorseless rhythm, as she invites her bandmates in one by one until the dreamlike beginning becomes a riotous and smouldering fanfare. Perhaps it’s the fact that her debut album was in fact recorded three years ago which allows her to step away from the emotion of the heartbreak it chronicles, and fuse them with power and an edge.

It’s testament to Prass’s talent and personality that despite it only being a Wednesday night gig to a couple of hundred people she was able to roll out both Ryan Adams and Jessie Ware to perform with her. As exclamations of ‘what the fuck’ swept over the audience, Prass looked like she was just having a damn good time with her mates. Ryan Adams stepping out and started jamming away on Violently was something of a magical moment. But she’s not just about big names and impressive statements for their own sake, and also invited Mississippi pal Alva Leigh on stage as they reminisced back, crooning away to one another.
Practically every member of the audience now has a huge crush on Prass, her quirky personality, milky vocals and sense of wonder a hybrid of Zooey Descchanel, Jenny Lewis and Sharon Van Etten. Her smouldering charisma was punctuated by kooky jokes and smiles, deadpan commentary (‘Christy was a bitch’ ‘This is a new track called Coat. I don’t say the word Coat once in it.’) and genuine giggles. Her commanding presence is also sweet and amusing, a doe eyed but gritty sincerity warming her to everyone in the crowd. Her vulnerability seemed to morph into strength, her sweetness into sensuality and her tender talent an authentic and powerful performance.
Tonight was the night that a good set of songs became something great in the arms of a sublime and beautiful artist. Natalie Prass.

Los Campesinos – Good Night For A Fist Fight

admin — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 14:11:33 +0000

There is no way I could ever pick my favourite Los Campesinos song. Maudlin blues, lush love, always complex lyrics and cavorting melodies they are inimitable and totally adorable. Recorded in December of last year at the Islington Assembly Hall in London live album Good Night For A Fist Fight features work from across their veritable canon, and has been released on cassette to celebrate this years Cassette Store Day.
A Good Night For A Fistfight tracklisting:
1. Ways To Make It Through The Wall
2. Death To Los Campesinos!
3. Romance Is Boring
4. By Your Hand
5. Hello Sadness
6. A Heat Rash in the Shape of the Show Me State; or, Letters from Me to Charlotte
7. I Just Sighed. I Just Sighed, Just So You Know
8. Songs About Your Girlfriend
9. Miserabilia
10. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
11. There Are Listed Buildings
12. Knee Deep At ATP
13. Straight In At 101
14. My Year In Lists
15. Heart Swells/Pacific Daylight Time
16. The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future
17. You! Me! Dancing!
18. Baby I Got The Death Rattle
19. In Medias Res
20. We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives
21. Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks

islington assembly hall – and so she thinks

Natalie Prass live at Islington Assembly Hall

Los Campesinos – Good Night For A Fist Fight