Gig review: Burnt Island

Published on Monday 8 March 2010 18:07

BURNT ISLAND **** MONO, GLASGOW

LYRICAL. That seems like a good place to start describing Burnt Island. They're folksy in the most credible fashion, a soft collision of heart-warming balladry and the kind of fey, literate indie-pop which Glasgow moves to. Also, let's be honest, no band in the city could look more foppish, could wear their beards and sideburns and skinny jeans with as much diligent style as this lot.

Only their violinist and glockenspiel player Rik Evans's cowboy hat and Amber Comerford's smart dress distract from the essential indie-boyishness of the landscape – well, those and the lead vocals of Rodge Glass, erstwhile novelist and biographer of Alasdair Gray.

Amidst the gentle wash of songs such as Man on Fire and Music & Maths, the soft arrangement of Evans's playing, Comerford's backing vocals and guitarist (and Scotsman writer) Malcolm Jack's playing are second string to Glass's voice.

It's masculine but tender, reminiscent of Nick Cave or Ian McCulloch in places, and contains an in-built sense of the poetry of the spoken word. The Moments Before's chorus of "this city is mine for an hour / it's mine for a minute / its mine til you say so" flows particularly beautifully.

So this launch show for their debut album, also named Music & Maths, was a success, and a fine showcase for a welcome new band. Even when the DJs engaged in a shouted argument mid-song and Glass had to calm them down: "I don't know if they need another drink," quipped the singer, reaching for his glass, "but I do". Because even authors and indie boys like a bit of banter.