The Blue Nile
July 13th
Somerset house
London
One of the purposes of art is the revelation of the sublime, it’s everywhere in the way that Aretha passes the note and hits another, its being with Otis at 4.30 in the morning, it’s in the light of a Cezanne. But I am a northern soul in part and as much as I love the lime in a mohjto, the spark in the eye of a Goya or the warmth of the sea off Valencia my heart cleaves at times to a different light.
It’s a salt bleached road, the rasp of sandstone on your fingers, in the flat vowels of Hughes and Auden, in Hooky’s low bass, it’s in that moment as your lungs flatten out on the top of a hill in the heat of summer and the smell of grass washes over you, it’s the bang of a saloon bar door and the blue light of a minster’s rose window, the surge of taxi, the laughter of my nephews and nieces, the gentle breath of an intimate on your ear, their hand on your chest, it’s in Blake and Keats it’s the everyday come alive and dissolved into air like, like, like….
The first line of Easter Parade by the Blue Nile
“The line of traffic comes to a stand still”
It may sound banal in Arial 12 point but with the music and Paul Buchanan’s voice no traffic jam ever sounded so good as this one and this is just one verse of their 50 or so songs.
Last night at Somerset House was as near as perfect gig as I’ve ever seen, no second was wasted and in fact they sped by so fast it was heartbreaking.
Why a band so good and so seemingly so at ease on stage don’t play more often is perplexing? However although The Blue Nile’s tardiness is legion I’m not sure I would change it, as it would like having a fast growing oak or drinking day old Port something essential would be lost.
The Blue Nile are great for all of the above and much more, for their human failings and their ability to over come them.
I’ve been to many gigs and few were better than last night there maybe no future in Britain’s dreaming but while me may let’s just turn over one more time and dream a while longer.
4 comments:
That is high praise indeed. One of my colleagues went and has been raving about it ever since. My partner (ooh, I hate that word) decided not to go because he is too lazy to leave the house on a Sunday night. He's kicking himself now...
Anyhow, were they better than the Valentines?
C&M:
I think it was really rather good, MBV was an event which i enjoyed but they are never as warm and joyful as agroup as BN. As for not going out on sunday they only play once in Blue moon and he should kick himself ;)
I agree this was a great gig. It's a shame Paul Buchanan only comes out of his kitchen once every five years. He's really self-deprecating about everything but the band sounded great and he clearly had a great time. Can we have more of this please?
what a marvelous piece young man - i've come over all of a quiver. thankyou
x
Post a Comment