Ben Watt + Bernard Butler // Norwich Arts Centre, 23.03.14
The man behind Tracy Thorn’s delectable vocals, whilst not the greatest vocalist that you will ever hear, has once again written a very charming album.
Wow! What an interesting and great musical collaboration this is.
It contains all of the characteristics of Ben Watt’s long time band, Everything But The Girl and the mesmerising guitar skills of musical troubadour Bernard Butler (he of Suede, Mcalmont and Butler and one time Duffy producer).
Watt’s latest album ‘Hendra’ released on his own Buzzin Fly label has that classic distinctive EBTG sound running through its blood and the songs are seamlessly joined up by Butler's extremely fine guitar playing skills. The great fop of a ginger fringe still flops off of his forehead, head bowed for most of the show and boy, what a fine player of his trade he indeed is. And Watt is keen to acknowledge just how lucky he is to have him on board several times during the evening, as he helps to bring this current collection of songs to life.
The man behind Tracy Thorn’s (his wife) delectable vocals these past thirty odd years, whilst not the greatest vocalist that you will ever hear, has once again written a very charming album.
The new songs, ‘The Gun’, ‘Hendra’ and ‘Young Man’s Game’ - the pick of the bunch - are naturally showcased tonight in between songs from the back catalogue as he delves deep with many personal stories and ramblings a plenty from his life.
He recalls a great story from his precocious teenage years, when as an up and coming musician, not long after he and Thorn had signed their first record deal: he asked his record company, Rough Trade if there was a chance that he could record with his musical hero and fellow label mate Robert Wyatt, the response was a very abrupt "NO chance!"
Rather luckily, soon after, he was invited to a bohemian / communist house party in London, where Wyatt was also in attendance. He plucked up the courage to ask him personally if he would record some material with him and much to his surprise the great man agreed to do just that, although the tracks were never released. It’s a great story.
He is a man that is clearly very proud of his roots, both personally and professionally, as the stories continue to flow during the evening in-between songs.
It’s a truly distinctive and nostalgic occasion, yet it remains a very refreshing sound that harks back to the first time that I ever heard Ben Watt play guitar on The Style Council's ‘Café Bleu’ album.
Butler quite literally pulls the stings as he sways and cohesively controls the mood of the songs.
There is some very deep and personal stuff going on here, with talk of distain, anger, love, hope and the rich fabric that life throws at us at times. Ben Watt is a great story teller and leaves you feeling glued to every song and story behind them. It has been a real pleasure being in their company this evening.
Steve Plunkett
