Swing out Sister new cd

[pljms]

I entirely agree. I was in the balcony, and by the time the sound reached there it was often a thumping mess. Bit like a school disco from the 1970s.

I think "a thumping mess" sums up the sound on Tuesday evening perfectly. I assume they did a sound check beforehand so maybe the bass-heavy sound, more akin to a jazz-funk band where the chords are of less importance, was what they were aiming for. To be fair, I don't think the acoustics in the hall are all that great because when Corinne Drewery addressed the audience between songs I could barely make out half of what she said.

[Martin Johnson]

I couldn't make the gig on Tuesday but I've heard that they might be doing more London dates early next year. In common with many old buildings the Islington Assembly Hall has quite echoey acoustics and is probably not best suited to modern PA systems. An overloud bass guitar is something I encountered not too long ago at a blues/rock trio gig at the Shepherds Bush Empire and because it was drowning out the star lead guitarist some members of the audience started yelling out random complaints before it became a united and repeated chorus of, "Turn down the bass!" It had an effect almost immediately and the bass player didn't seem at all put out! By the sounds of it that scenario needed to have happened on Tuesday evening.

[nowmedical]

A few days after the concert I tweeted Andy Connell to tell him about the sound quality. He was kind enough to reply, and said no one else had mentioned it to him. Perhaps everyone else was being polite...

[pljms]

We were stood downstairs and I have to admit that I didn't notice any negative vibes coming from other audience members in my immediate vicinity regarding what I considered to be the very poor sound balance. The same can be said as we were all trooping out at the end of the gig when everyone else seemed almost deliriously happy, although by that time having stood stock-still for two hours I was more concerned about my ability to put one foot in front of the other! I came to the conclusion that a bass-heavy sound at gigs of this nature must be the norm these days and people are no longer concerned about highfalutin things like chord progressions. I also came to the conclusion that I must be getting old.

[Martin Johnson]

'Don't Give The Game Away' from the 'Almost Persuaded' album came on the radio while I was driving home from a gig late last night and it sounded wonderful, as relaxing as a cool G&T. Probably my third favourite song from the album after the title track and 'Everybody's Here':

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1tJumoR9dPw

[nowmedical]

Martin I'm completely persuaded that you are dead right. The last 30 seconds of the title track - call it a coda if you want - is top drawer.

[pljms]

Swing Out Sister are performing at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Sunday the 5th of May.

This Latin flavoured gem of theirs from the 'Beautiful Mess' album would lend itself well to the early summer vibe of the festival, situated as it is in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=boWnN7ff30g

[Martin Johnson]

I was back on my old stomping ground in Tokyo last week and as always when I stay there I heard Swing Out Sister played on the local radio stations. It was particularly gratifying to hear the Jobim influenced 'Closer Than The Sun' from 'Filth And Dreams' because this remains the only album of theirs I don't own in any format:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu2vlcS1Htc

[Sara D]

.... It was particularly gratifying to hear the Jobim influenced 'Closer Than The Sun' from 'Filth And Dreams' because this remains the only album of theirs I don't own in any format:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu2vlcS1Htc

We don't own 'Filth And Dreams' either and according to Allmusic it's one of their best albums. Certainly the four or five tracks I'm familiar with are all top drawer and I'm really taken with Corinne Drewery's vocals on the gorgeous 'Invisible'.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lSsFMcOKGGM

[pljms]

I had the Filth And Dreams album but somehow lost it in a house move a few years ago and to get it again it looks like I'll have to pay the earth. Just about the only song from the album to establish any kind of foothold in their live shows is 'Who's Been Sleeping' which has a very Bacharachesque chorus.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ewpJ3zOJWV4

[Martin Johnson]

I had the Filth And Dreams album but somehow lost it in a house move a few years ago and to get it again it looks like I'll have to pay the earth. Just about the only song from the album to establish any kind of foothold in their live shows is 'Who's Been Sleeping' which has a very Bacharachesque chorus.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ewpJ3zOJWV4

It's interesting listening to the original studio version of Who's Been Sleeping and then hearing how they went on to make it more compact as a song for their live shows. They also transform the bridge into a thing of beauty. This was filmed at a London gig in 2008:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3SdgE4Cmh3s

[Sara D]

Happy 60th birthday today to Corinne Drewery, lead singer and songwriter in Swing Out Sister and a fellow Bacharach fan. 'Mama Didn't Raise No Fool' is a favourite of mine of theirs.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-g_RwP2II