Hit the Brakes! - Tiscali Music News

2002-10-07

Turin Brakes played the Shepherd's Bush Empire on the 29th Sept 2002

Turin Brakes' singer Olly Knights' songs may hint of urban unease, but nothing is quite as sudden or confused as his exit from the Shepherd's Bush Empire stage midway through stunning new single Long Distance.

We are never treated to an explanation.

Perhaps a string broke, or perhaps an inappropriate bladder complaint has never been made to seem quite so...mysterious?

The band are bringing their Balham-based brand of folk-rock back home to showcase material from their second album, out in January; their follow-up to the Mercury-nominated The Optimist LP.

That tag fails to do justice to the intensity of Knights' soaring vocals and fellow member Gale Paradganian's accomplished guitar-work.
Despite the roll they are on, Turin Brakes are going back to basics, using the (relatively) intimate setting of the Empire to perform the songs acoustically, just as they are written, according to Knights.

We are also treated to the luxury of Texan keyboardist Dave Palmer: 'He's an American but he means you no harm,' quips Knights.

Unfortunately he is left frustratingly quiet in the mix, leaving much of his contribution only to be guessed at.

Most of the recording for the new opus was done in California, but Nashville would have seemed a more apposite spiritual home for the slide guitar and delicate soloing of Paradganian.

The only time he looks out of his depth is during Knight's bizarre walkout, exclaiming forlornly 'That's never happened before,' before jamming an impromptu but distracted blues with the erstwhile Palmer.

The middle of the set sags slightly, with a couple of songs that don't quite do enough lyrically or musically, but this is due to the quality of the rest of the material on offer.

New tracks such as The Stone and Self Help are exciting, and old favourites Future Boy and 72 have never sounded better.

And the single, Long Distance, is sublime – expect to start appearing on every playlist in town, and soon. After this, it will be difficult indeed to put the brakes on – whether Knights does a runner or not.