Echo and The Bunnymen are touring at the moment and walked into some difficulties last week with a few hit and miss reviews and a last minute cancelled gig in Manchester. They got back underway at Bristol and seem to be back on track but all is not well if you read between the lines. I've seen them several times in the last few years and always had a good night out- those songs, Ian in good voice, Will's guitar playing- but at some gigs others have attended Ian hasn't always been at his best and this seems to have been the case last week. Hopefully, he's OK.
In 2013 Will and original bass playing Bunnyman Les Pattinson formed a side band, Poltergeist, a trio of cosmic explorers with Will very much free to indulge his psychedelic guitar dreams. The eight instrumental songs on Your Mind Is A Box (Let Us Fill It With Wonder) are all worthy of the time spent with them, Will and Les mining 70s cosmische, 60s psyche and scouse adventurism to fine effect. Over half the songs on the album stretch out over six minutes- this one, Cathedral, opens the record and gathers a head of steam, Will's guitars shimmering and careering over some lovely bass playing from Les.
In the 70s, as Liverpool's punk scene spun into being Will lived on a flat with Paul Simpson (Teardrop Explodes, The Wild Swans, Care, solo, author, smart dresser) halfway between the city's pair of famous cathedrals. Leaving his front door and turning left or right would bring either the Anglican one or the Modernist Catholic one immediately into view. I've always assumed that this track is a tribute to one or the other or both.
From my own recent experience, I can say that Will's guitar playing was spot on all night. As you say, hopefully Ian is okay.
ReplyDeleteThe Poltergeist album was great, both Will and Les on really top form. If they could have got Mac in to do some vocals it might have made for a terrific Bunnymen album.
ReplyDeleteI can't help wondering if the Bunnymen need a bit of a rethink...these greatest hits type tours are becoming a little tired and in my view so are the succession of hired hands they surround themselves with these days. They could do worse than recruit the magnificent tribute band "Echoes Of The Bunnymen" who recreate the songs with real care and attention as well as commitment, and aren't just a tribute, more an "immersive experience."
I know what you mean NickL about the hits tours. Haven't seen Echoes Of the Bunnymen but I've heard good things.
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