Timber Timbre gig review, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Brighton, 01/09/2011
By Graham Pembrey.
“I don’t believe in ghosts, but I have seen the demon host.” With lyrics like these, who needs harrowing music to convey a sense of the impending apocalypse? But then with instruments sounding this lush, you wouldn’t want Timber Timbre to go acapella.
Beautifully barren, bluesy guitar riffs are welded on to Nick Cave-esque, raspy vocals by songwriter Taylor Kirk, who perches on a chair, cradling his guitar and occassionally lashing it outwards towards some invisible target. Under dark lights, he bears more than a passing resemblance to alt-folk hero Bonny Prince Billy. Across the stage, multi-instrumentalist Mika Posen lurks in the shadows, adding mournful violin and keys, while guitarist Simon Trottier stoops over an array of guitar effects pedals and sample-triggers.
“Spooky” summarises the culmination of the trio’s efforts pretty well. There’s a darkly vintage, romantic streak running through many of the songs. Take Lonesome Hunter, which you can imagine making the perfect first dance for two loved-up skeletons at some creepy, underworld wedding.
Hailing from Canada (“We’re from THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Only joking,” Kirk says by way of introduction), the band have released four albums, but are only just being widely recognised and respected for their hard work. Earlier this year, their latest LP Creep on Creeping on was shortlisted for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize. Past winners of the prestigious Canadian award have included Caribou, Final Fantasy and Fucked Up; this year Arcade Fire are also nominated. Magic Arrow, which Timber Timbre encore with tonight, can be heard on an episode of the American TV series Breaking Bad.
While they may be making headway in mainstream culture, Timber Timbre lean towards the fiercely underground atmospherics of Godspeed you Black Emperor, particularly on songs like the doom-drenched Woman, with its superbly stomping rhythm and dark-as-night melody. Swamp Magic brings to mind the wintery starkness of Neurosis.
Sticky Mike’s lived up to its name; air conditioning would be a fantastic investment. The bar was intimate but its small confines left Timber Timbre sounding slightly caged-in. A bigger venue would better compliment their cinematic, reverb-heavy style. Who knows, maybe if their rising popularity continues, the Dome will beckon this time next year?