Kelsey Michael + The Happy Couple - Green Note, London 29/07/2024
The unpredictable UK weather has taken a turn for the better, and it’s positively steamy in the Green Note basement. For those yet to sample the charms of this most intimate of venues, imagine your living room with a bar at one end, but probably smaller. A sold-out venue makes for a cosy experience, so we grab a beer and a spot by the bar in preparation for this evening's entertainment brought to us by Brian and the good folks at Dimple Discs.
Dimple Discs live up to their claim of having a roster of unique musical voices - tonight being no exception. First up, Judith Goodman and David Ross, aka The Happy Couple from Norfolk, whose intent is to spread the word about the unique environment they call home via a wonderfully beguiling set of instrumental numbers. Judith plays acoustic and electric slide guitar while David adds a selection of unexpected sounds to capture a naturalistic vibe via an array of jew’s harps and, even more surprisingly, a mouth bow (not something you see every day). The ability to transport us from a sweaty London basement to the wilds of Norfolk is no mean feat. Judith and David are engaging/relaxed performers with a string of quite lovely compositions. Their upcoming, amusingly titled ‘Lullaby of Broadland’ album was recorded live, with just the odd overdub of field sounds for ambience. The musical stylings of The Happy Couple came as a pleasant surprise, expanding my boundaries into regions seldom explored, geographically and musically.
David Ross (The Happy Couple).
We depart the Norfolk Broadland and turn to the far South West of the UK in the company of Kelsey Michael. ‘Lethowsow’ is the debut release from the Cornwall-based singer and songwriter. Although technically her debut, ‘Lethowsow’ (pronounced Laith-oh-so), marks the beginning of a new stage in the career of an artist with an impressive resume that includes two, well received EPs with Minnow, a stint as a touring backing singer for The The, vocal contributions to Jocelyn Pook’s soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ and frequent collaborations with Sean O’Hagan and The High Llamas. Not unlike The Happy Couple, Kelsey’s music is rooted in the surroundings of her home in Penzance, Cornwall, with the town and especially the sea playing a pivotal role in her storytelling.
Kelsey Michael inhabits the same sonic universe as Laura Nyro and Carole King. Comparisons with such names, although weighty, seem perfectly fair based on this performance and the strength of her album. Kelsey also has an affinity with her surroundings, whether it be a plant that forms part of the ecosystem, a windswept beach or the immense power of the sea. Dig a little deeper and you will find Kelsey isn’t immune to the struggles of others, as evidenced by the likes of ‘Tide Comes In’, which is lyrically and musically firmly rooted in the now.
Kelsey Michael
Kelsey begins solo at the keyboard for ’The Chattering Tree’ before being joined for ‘Washing Line’ by her daughter MAY, who adds some lovely harmonies. The addition of acoustic bassist Jon Fell (The High Llamas/Microdisney) is a masterstroke on a tune that emphasises the small things lyrically, while walking a musical tightrope between catchy and restrained with great aplomb. ‘Washing Line’ is a bit of a favourite, with the combination of keys, bass and vocal harmony working well together to recreate the album tracks in a live setting. Next up, we’ve some impressively complex multipart audience involvement. I never thought I’d be singing along to a song featuring a plant as its main protagonist, but ‘Red Valerian’ is that song. Split the room into sections (barfly section for me), add a few handclaps, and you’ve a surprisingly effective, enjoyable piece of audience participation.
Kelsey reverts to solo piano for ‘Swimming’ before the hypnotic drone of a Shruti box, coupled with Jon’s bass, ushers in ‘Tide Comes In’. The jazzy ‘Gry Maritha’, effectively an ode to the ships that link Penzance and the Isles of Scilly, is another winner and features an unexpected, yet welcome, keys/bass coda. ‘Music of the Waves’ sees MAY return to reprise her harmony vocal from the album. The incantation of Cornish place names is a clever little touch on a beautifully arranged piece. Things kick up a gear for ‘Mounts Bay Morning’ brimming with bouncy exuberance to conclude a fine set.
Kelsey returns for an encore with her trusty Shruti box in hand for a striking rendition of Richard Farina’s ‘The Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood’. It’s a fitting way to close an evening filled with positivity and an appreciation for nature and the world around us.
Kelsey Michael - Lethowsow is available now digitally with CD/LP set for the 13th of September.
The Happy Couple - Lullaby of Broadland is set for release later this year. Full details TBC.
I don’t get to many metal shows these days, so I jumped at the opportunity to visit North London for a rare UK visit from Kamelot. The Florida-born but now multi-national act are deep into their ‘Awaken The World’ tour with impressive looking support from Ad Infinitum, Blackbriar and Frozen Crown. I’m, unusually for me, bright and early for the start of tonight’s proceedings and expecting good things.