Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
The New Year is a week old and whilst many are feeling their way back into the way of 2014, the first stirrings of music can be heard through the alleyways and shelters from the inclement weather. If 2013 was a huge year for music in Liverpool, new artists and groups offering new blood to the sage, wise and considered, many brilliant bands from outside of the area and beyond making their way in some sort of momentous pilgrimage to the natural home of popular music and declaring that love with many hands on heart, then 2014 should be even better.
One of the new musicians to make his way to Liverpool in the past couple of years is Iain Till, the release of his rather magnificent E.P. Oh Sweetheart of Mine, bought him to the attention of the locals and fresh from attending Ian Prowse’s Monday Night Club, he and his guitar made their way to Brink on Parr Street.
The E.P. is a wonder, a blissful way to wallow and endlessly press repeat on your machine of musical fancy but catching somebody raw, musically exposed, especially so soon in the start of a New Year, is quite thrilling. Even when everything is against them, from having to perform alone due to unfortunate and tragic circumstances and trying a new set of strings out, the sound that Iain Till produced was exquisite. A joy to make your way out of a warm house or even warmer office and sit and drink in the notes that pour with honest abandon from a rich guitar and beautiful voice.
The Brink may not be the most natural home for music but what it provides is decent and authentic, it provides the touch of home in which you know people are listening, even if the sound of a freshly brewed cup of tea is being noisily stirred with ever-increasing vigour. Against this Iain Till performed several tracks to the distributed crowd and was very well received. With songs such as the title track to the E.P., the brilliance of Song For Lenny, the beauty of Fade To Black and the wonderful gamble of a new song thrown in for good measure, so new it doesn’t have a name as yet, this was a night in which to relax and let a musician take you away from the hectic aftermath of Christmas for a while.
The E.P. really is that good; catching Iain Till live is even bigger pleasure.
Ian D. Hall