Gig review: The Moth and the Mirror - Stereo, Glasgow

By Malcolm Jack
Published on Friday 14 October 2011 00:11

ALTHOUGH the trend on the Glasgow indie scene for musicians to play in each others’ bands is very healthy, it can result in some groups stalling, should certain members have to prioritise one project over another.

Just ask The Moth and The Mirror – centred on guitarist and singer Stacey Sievwright, herself formerly of Arab Strap and The Reindeer Section – whose guitarists Louis Abbot and Gordon Skene have enjoyed burgeoning success and schedules to match with Admiral Fallow and Frightened Rabbit respectively.

This was the launch show for The Moth and The Mirror’s debut album Honestly, This World, which was recorded two years ago, but has only now reached release thanks to local independent label Olive Grove records. It’s a great listen, melding the off-kilter indie-pop and unpredictable song structures of The Delgados with the raucous alt-rock melodicism of primetime Idlewild, all held together by cultured rising and falling arrangements and Sievwright’s breathy voice.

Played in full here, it wasn’t given the best possible start in life with a set that felt slightly under-rehearsed and lacking in confidence, though perhaps that’s understandable considering the circumstances. Some of the songs were of a quality not to be argued with, though – in particular gorgeous nocturnal twinkle Soft Insides and lead-single Germany, one of those typically racing, rousing Scottish indie numbers that already feels like it’s been around forever.

It’s a shame Honestly, This World probably won’t be toured as thoroughly as it could be, though for The Moth and The Mirror’s busier members, having too much great music to play has to go down as one of those good problems.

Rating: ****

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