If you aren’t aware of Modern
Studies then please take note: You should be.
They’re a (largely, but not
entirely) Scottish band whose debut album, Swell to Great, was released last
year and gathered considerable acclaim. That’s not really the important bit.
The important bit is that they make great music; thoughtful music with depth,
and catchiness and, like all the best music, a little dollop of weirdness.
Central to Modern Studies’ sound
is a slightly wheezy harmonium, that infuses the music with a distinctly
analogue glow in an increasingly digital musical world and sees their tunes
sliding around the little-known spectrum where ‘otherworldly’ lurks at one end
and ‘Victorian Sunday school’ sits primly at the other. If this all gives the
impression that Modern Studies are a bit grey and fusty then please forgive me,
because they’re entirely the opposite; this is ‘feel good’ music, as those who
have gathered in the magnificent Hall One at Sage Gateshead tonight will tell
you.
Modern Studies (Emily, Rob, Pete
and Joe) are here tonight primarily to support King Creosote, but their warmth
soon engages those who have been sensible enough to arrive early, and the
reaction rises from an appreciative ‘this could be interesting’ ripple of
applause for their opening track, ‘Supercool’, to a full-on whooping and
hollering for their last, ‘Ten White Horses’, which, like many of their tunes,
starts slowly and quietly, then swells majestically with the aid of an almost
military drumbeat and glorious group harmonies.
In between, the harmonium is used
to best effect on the hymn-like introduction to ‘Bottle Green’ and when coupled
with the double bass on the mournful and hypnotic ‘Sleep’.
For my money though, it’s the
timeless ‘Father is a Craftsman’ that’s the best of the night, it’s intelligent
and beautifully constructed and it sounds like it was written by a little-known
folk singer back in 1962, rather than lovingly crafted by Emily Scott.
Not a bad way to spend Burns’
night.
Don't forget you can still get your hands on one (or all) of my books at Google Play by following these links;
The Great Cassette Experiment
Writing about music
More writing about music
Don't forget you can still get your hands on one (or all) of my books at Google Play by following these links;
The Great Cassette Experiment
Writing about music
More writing about music
