poppedmusic

Black Rivers

Photo: Jimmy Gallagher

The Fleece, Bristol 11th February 2015

Words: Jimmy Gallagher

The Seven Stars, situated right next door to Bristol’s The Fleece provides the coziest of environments to sip a few local beers on a cold February evening whilst waiting for a slightly late running gig, just as this one was.

When the doors did open one was only exposed to the elements for a more than brisk second before Bristol’s best music venue swallowed us into its wide expanse of stone and pillars.

Black Rivers are nearing the end of their first tour under the name but they are more recognizable as 2/3rds of the seminal Manchester indie outfit, Doves. Following the lead singer Jimi Goodwin’s solo album last year, The Williams brothers, Jez and Andy have taken to the studio without Goodwin and produced a marvellous self titled debut album.

Sam Easton and his acoustic guitar took the stage to open the nights entertainment before another Manchester artist, Jane Weaver took her turn. Draped in a poncho that a Rick Wakeman dalek would have been proud of, Jane Weaver headed an otherwise all male band in a cosmic assault of synthesized noise blasts that were hard not to sit up and take note of.

The opening two tracks, The Fallen By Watchbird and Argent were not dissimilar from a pre-millennium Primal Scream as Razz Ullah twisted and turned his knobs forming psychedelic patterns and divisions of opaque sounds. All underpinned by the repetitive guitar of Matt Grayson in a If They Move, Kill Um style synth and bass mortar round.

Once the sound desk rescued Weaver’s vocal from the chowder of voluptuous synth it became clear that this girl has some very good songs and a subtle ethereal voice that perhaps her stage presence didn’t always suggest.

When Black Rivers time came the years of experience was evident as Jez Williams strode out, sporting the recognizable hunting cap and brandishing his cinematic guitar style. Harbour Lights eased us into the set, this instrumental forming a prologue of what most already knew was to follow.

Black Rivers are, of course a new project, all be it, a proven outfit. They are not the Doves but one would be foolish not to refer to or draw on the inevitable comparisons. On their own merits Black Rivers have some fine songs in a very good new album but they would do. They are practically Doves.

The Ship traverses the cloudward journey that Almost Forget Myself did in Some Cities. Andy’s focused drums compliment the fluttering guitar chords Jez has always been so accustomed to producing.

It is Jez’s vocals that are a pleasure to be more exposed to rather than fleetingly, in past Doves records. If anything, his vocal suits the dancier, more electronic elements that Black Rivers possess. The Forest is a shining example of this. Less resonant than Goodwin but Williams voice floats on the tune, as if another instrumental layer.

Adding to the cinematic experience was the use of lighting, pinks and golds illuminated the four piece through Diamond Days and Rise. No kaleidoscope of colour could mask Andy’s wild, wide eyed stare of focus as he counts himself through the delicious Deep Rivers Run Quiet.

And then, as if heaven sent, the opening piano of Black And White Town. The stare was replaced with a smile as the inevitable joy broke out amongst the faithful. Hard to imagine that it could be topped but it was, immediately. Andy Williams 1,2,3,4 beat brought in Pounding from 2002’s The Last Broadcast.

There was yet time for Black Rivers to unleash there first single on the new album. Voyager 1, like so many of Black Rivers songs stand up next to Doves classics. Who knows if, in time another Doves album will come but this night was about the Williams brothers and their maiden voyage down Black Rivers.