Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
Chloe Glover enjoys a night of addictive and heartfelt genre-bending sounds
Image: Liz Lawrence by Tracy Hyman
One of the British alternative scene’s most underrated artists, Liz Lawrence delivered a sumptuously bewitching set at The Grove, showcasing her funk pop rock record Peanuts. Lawrence made heads turn the moment she stepped on stage in a chainmail headdress, bringing to mind a resplendent Joan of Arc going into a genre-bending battle.
Peanuts is a self-proclaimed ‘back to the land bangers album’, whose heavy basslines underscore the evolution of her sound from earlier records, such as the lo-fi folk Pity Party. Heard live, they are even better; hooking in the audience from the punchy percussive first track On Loss And Overcoming Despair, to the snappy bass of encore Strut. Mixed with Lawrence’s earnest, velvety-rich voice, wonderfully off-kilter tempo changes, and layers upon layers of diverse sounds spanning funk, rock, pop and more, the set had a mesmerising and moreishly unsettling quality. Maybe this is best typified with Lawrence’s latest single, Yeti, whose absorbing lyrical delivery gave way to delightfully discordant synths and gnashing guitar. Each song dreamily picked fans up before placing them on tenterhooks and launching them into unknown waters. It’s an at once heartfelt, sexy and totally addictive sound.
Support came from group Attawalpa, whose mellow yet textured and tender stripped-back set featuring guitar and beautiful viola solos is one to see again in its own right. More violas at gigs please.
