Lonelady live - Photo by Nigel King
Touring in support of her second album Hinterland, a record that is not only influenced musically by Julie Campbell’s hometown of Manchester with its icy atmosphere of Joy Division and post-punk funk of A Certain Ratio. It also takes its cues from the city’s architecture and the area around her studio where the album was written and recorded - the derelict outskirts, patches of wasteland and forgotten areas dotted around the edges of the city.
That feeling of remoteness hangs over her songs like a tower block looming against a backdrop of grey northern skies. Taking influence from early eighties pop and wiry British indie of the same era, there’s also a remoteness and distance woven in to Lonelady's songs. On her recent album the blend of the angular, distance and repetitiveness, like you are listening to a 12” remix, makes for a rewarding listen. Live though, or at least tonight, it doesn’t really ever get going.
Part of what makes going to see live music so enjoyable is the connection between the artist and audience. Bands that made ice-cool indie-dance in a similar vein such as The Rapture or early LCD Soundsytem were still able to whip an audience up while maintaining a level of detachment in their music. Lonelady unfortunately come across as being a bit bored and like they would rather be anywhere else tonight. It would be unfair to dismiss the band on this one performance. Hinterland is a cracking listen and I’m sure they are a great band to watch live, we must have caught them on an off-night, and every band has these.
It only really starts to pick up for the last couple of songs: The hypnotic, desolate funk of Groove It Out, which must be a contender for one of the songs of the year, and the pulsating Hinterland propelled by its electronic horns. It’s a great, lively end to the set, and it feels like the band and audience are finally getting in to their stride. But as soon as it starts, it’s over, and the band depart the stage looking relieved that they don’t have to return.
Lonelady played The Bodega on Wednesday 8 April 2015.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
