Narc. Magazine Online
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Beverley Knight spends an evening with three songwriting geniuses
It’s a drizzly Tuesday night in the intimate setting of Cluny 2. Three friends of three nationalities stand on the compact stage. And so the magic begins… Joe Gideon, with Gris-De-Lin and Jim Sclavunos brought their explorative alternative rock album of Armagideon to an expectant crowd.
The first thing of note was the perfect positioning of the instruments. Gris’s keyboard was central, meaning Jim’s percussion was stage left, facing in, and Joe stood with his guitar stage right. The band plays at the same musical wavelength creating synergy and tight sound. It also meant you could see Jim at work in full splendour: a driving force brought to the forefront.
Opening with the calm sound of Somewhere South seemed representative of Gideon’s work and style; he is a master of building layers and atmosphere. It was a sweet start that led on to single Expandable Mandible during which Gris-De-Lin’s samples came into play along with the harmonies between her and Joe. End of the world signifier Comet Coming Down provided drama and a dynamic change.
Berit’s Cliff House is the most melodic of the songs, and brought a slight air of the Velvet Underground to proceedings. For Eugene Went Crazy, Joe’s storytelling skills came into play, singing to us about World War II photographer W. Eugene Smith. Ending on Scaredy Cat was an apt way to sum up the quirk and variety of the gig.
The night as a whole took you on a wild journey where you never knew what to expect next. Short and sweet, it was hugely enjoyable, and It felt like such a joy to witness three sublimely talented people doing what they love.
