Colette McKendrick
>> 'Etheria' Album Launch Party
>> Oran Mor
>> 12th May 2006
It’s a strange wee venue, the Oran Mor. Located as it is in the basement of a recently refurbished, once-derelict church; it has the ambience of a medieval dungeon crossed with the romantically flamboyant air of a Phantom of the Opera-esque theatre…
and as such it’s the perfect place for vibrant young misfit Colette McKendrick to unveil her marvellously eclectic debut album.
Following an eye-opening show at a certain Glasgow magazine’s own launch night back in April it is obvious that Colette et al have hit the ground running and are continually picking up the pace. The ‘Mor is packed out, the walls are beautifully decorated with Gaelic art and the band is hotting up with what has effectively become a ‘best of’ set already! But not just one, oh no, for it is the liberal decadence of two sets that the crowd are treated to tonight. In poker terms it’s ‘ALL IN!’ So how’s the hand?
Well, you’d be forgiven for thinking that two sets would lead to an inevitable drag in proceedings, but not one to run out of steam it seems that Colette has been in marathon training for tonight. The lively mix of musical styles keep the crowd buoyant and the band is clearly in its element when locking into a groove.
By now the songs speak for themselves. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of the myspace site has probably been entranced by the snippets of ‘Voyerism’, ‘Colour’ and ‘Peter Pan’s Biggest Fan’ already – but tonight there is a defining energy in the band’s performance that transcends the limitations of any recording. The delicate touch of ‘Dark Horse’ or the misty funk of ‘Kangaroo’ is something to be witnessed live. The nifty addition of some well-chosen covers, including Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, also add to the glittery vaudeville performance.
Tonight’s highlights are ‘This Girl’ (for Arthur Izat’s wizardly guitar powers) and the song that other bands will probably beat down Colette’s door and hit her with a stick for, ‘Find Me’. The latter is a song of such completely realised brilliance that the songwriters she is arguably rubbing shoulders with – Tori Amos, Imogen Heap, Dresden Dolls, et cetera – would whimper and scurry off into a cave should they hear it. The sooner the world gets to hear this song the better!
I have no doubt that tonight’s show will be the start of bigger things for this band. At the next available opportunity get out and see Colette McKendrick in an intimate venue – because you won’t have the chance for long. Calling Jools!
>> Russell Moore
www.colettemckendrick.co.uk
