The Research
Live at Faversham on Saturday, 13th August 2005
The Venna Blast - angular post-punk that rather washed over me I'm afraid. A few half decent songs were present but my interest was not. Maybe I've just heard too much of this sort of thing recently, maybe I was put off by their manager (?) trying to act all 'I'm mad me' while dishing CDs out I just do not know. Ho hum.
Next up are the splendidly monikered Piskie Sits. A guitar string breaks on the very first chord of the very first song bringing proceedings to a halt. Interesting things are found in the bottom of pints. A song is played written by Guitar Player 2 - off-kilter indie pop, very good indeed.
A fit-again guitar emerges from the side of the stage and singer Craig Hole (surely not Mother?) can stop worrying about what to do with his hands. Poppy harmonies and keyboard mix with atypical guitar chords to form a slightly psychedelic, Pavement-esque, wonky sandwich. Vocals are occasionally out of tune in a rather endearing way. 30 minutes fly by, melodies stick in the head. Excellent.
The Research. £20 Casio keyboard from Argos, a drum kit missing many of its limbs, the voices of two angels and one teenage burger-flipper. And amazing pop-songs.
Russell Singer-Bloke is very drunk tonite children. This matters not - "I love you but (I'm scared of fucking up)" is still the best song ever, harmonies tingle and the playful innocence of it all lets you forget the monsters under the bed.
The cynical amongst us could suggest there's something rather arch about The Research with their music college background plucking away inexpertly at Ukuleles. The cynical amongst us need to have a nice little bath and an early nite then They Will See.
"She's not leaving" - swoon. Apparently this has left the set recently but is back tonite, which is nice. "C'mon chameleon" - sigh. The next single and surely one to take out for a slap up meal and a bottle of milk stout. Pure pop brilliance.
The Research are something special - don't let them pass you by.
