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Manchester music reviews |
![]() The Durutti Column presents Chronicleat The Bridgewater HallReviewed by Mark Iddon April 2011
Fans of The Durutti Column know not to expect polite melodic tunes, but an experimental array of free flowing layering of meandering interwoven sounds, ranging from delicate and restrained classical pieces to the energetic guitar of the anarchic leaning, but classically trained Vini Reilly, overlaid with a complimentary arrangement of sampled sounds. Their music self consciously sets out to challenge traditional music structures.
The Durutti Column have previously performed (in 2004) at the Bridgewater Hall, which is a wonderful venue and more usually the home of the Hallé Orchestra. The Bridgewater Hall (who commissioned this performance), has a distinguished entrance on Lower Mosley Street, a grand foyer and civilised, if a little stark, bar area overlooking the canal basin. It has a grand auditorium with stalls area and 3 balcony levels and great attention to the design of the building in order to maximise the acoustic performance of the space. Covers dressed the front of the balconies, presumably to compensate for the heavier sound of The Durutti Column from the traditional instruments of the Hallé Orchestra.
The Hall was officially opened in December 1996, and incorporates advanced technology into its structure which sits on earthquake proof isolation bearings (giant springs) so that the hall is protected from all external noise and vibration.
The photographs included Poppy from happier times, the warm smile of Bruce Mitchell (percussion), the playfulness of Keir Stewart (bass, Acoustic guitar, sampled sound), a sullen Vini and a portrait, I presume to be Vini’s mother for whom the ‘Somebody Else’s Party’ (2005) was dedicated. At the end of a downbeat first half performance Vini said that after the interval there would be would be some louder songs, and a bit more upbeat I hoped. The self derisive Vini also apologised that he was struggling with limited use of his left hand as he was still recovering from a recent stroke. His determination to continue performing music in spite of the health limitations has been a feature of his career and his persistence is quite admirable.
After the Interval, Vini thanked the audience for staying in acknowledgment that it had occurred to him that some might not return. The first song was ‘Sketch For Summer’ from the album ‘The Return of the Durutti Column’ of 1980. This song dedicated to his dear friend, the late Anthony H. Wilson, who had backed Vini to ensure that his music was committed to vinyl at a time when few record companies were willing to take a chance with music that was not of obvious wide appeal. Vini also noted that this was his first working with the producer Martin Hannett, who is credited as having created the ‘Manchester Sound’, with his extraordinary methods of attaining the particular sounds that he had envisaged. Martin’s notoriety in the music business is mostly noted for his production of Joy Division’s groundbreaking ‘Unknown Pleasures’ and ‘Closer’, but who died prematurely in 1991. The song ‘Otis’, perhaps the most well known due to it featuring on the ‘24 Hour Party People’ soundtrack of 2002, was a high point of the second half performance.
After one or two lighter songs the performance continued with the musical category defying ‘Woman’ and vigorous Durutti favourite ‘The Missing Boy’ before ‘Requiem for my Mother’ as the last song, which builds up to a crescendo with Kier resting his bass to join Bruce on drums for added poignancy of the apparent last song of the show.
The evening was a ‘taster’ for the new CD and perhaps it was not so inappropriate that it should have felt more like a dress rehearsal than the opening night. The band’s own website described it as a 'difficult' gig - click on The Durutti Column Presents Chronicle Live.
Having now listened to the pre release CD, I note that the range from the promising ‘Fanfare’ to some classic Durutti Column pieces. It does dip into sadness on songs like ‘Anguish of the text message’ with its beautiful string arrangements, but also ascends to some tracks such as ‘Friends’ where Vini’s guitars dance and shimmer over the driving bass and between the carefully crafted percussion of Bruce’s drumming.
The forthcoming Durutti Column CD ‘Chronicle’ is on general release on June 22nd Kooky Records.
Editor's Note: Readers of this article may also be interested in the public discussion organised by the Salon entitled 'Valuing the Arts' on Tuesday 21 June to discuss how the arts sector can ensure quality in the midst of dramatic budget cuts. |