New Songs / Rough Trade

[The Cockney Ghost]

Similar sentiments have probably been posted elsewhere, and this is just a repeat of my ramblings in the pub afterwards, but nonetheless:

The RT gig reminded me of what is brilliant about this band - Fear of Drowning, Waving Flags and Tugboat were absolutely epic. The kind of stuff that makes you want to, well, drown in the sound (for want of a less awful way of putting it).

Sadly, the new track is the exact antithesis of this. It's wank, utterly meaningless (both lyrically and musically); it makes one want to not bother going to gigs.

The band really should drop it, or change it. At the very least change the chorus. And the same goes for any new material that's along these lines.

Pyrex is my favourite of the new songs I've heard.

Durex is my least favourite method of contraception.

[Kattegat]

I love you, guys.

That being said, Zeus is awesomeness and loveliness combined into a 6 minute + earworm

[talia]

I love you, guys.

That being said, Zeus is awesomeness and loveliness combined into a 6 minute + earworm

Now why haven't they played Zeus more often live? They've made a t shirt and badges for it but i've only heard it twice, yet they play Pyrex all the time.

[Blackout]

Seemed to get "Zeus" quite a bit on the last tour, but I suppose it depends which dates you went to, apart from Bloomsbury I only did Northern ones.

I think "Pyrex" is my favourite new one too, I think it's a good daft bouncy pop tune with loads of energy, and while hardly poetry I don't consider its words any more or less deep than "oh remember me oh remember me oh remember me oh remember me" - and that was from back when everyone still liked them. I'm not as keen on all the new stuff (the one that goes "are you going to the party" hasn't done much for me so far) and I'll be the first to admit there's no "ohmygod!" song in there (as yet / for me) - but (a) time will tell - seem to recall way back in 2004 the a new song called "Chicken Pig" was almost universally derided on here (b) if it doesn't then fuck it, I'll go and watch a band I like more instead (it's not like I'm ever short of gigs I want to be at). Of which, even after all this time, there are very few possible contenders - and BSP on a good day still tops pretty much all of them.

[kevo]

I'll be the first to admit there's no "ohmygod!" song in there (as yet / for me)

Cleaning Up, which I think they've only played about twice, is simply stunning.

[gtw]

I'm sure there must be good reasons for it, but I think its a shame a broader sweep of the new songs haven't been road-tested via a 'lights out for darker skies'-style tour, which saw the bulk of DYLRM? getting an airing.

[nora dindian]

Maybe they'r more difficult to play, live. Maybe they dont want to do them until they have them properly nailed. If anything, what gtw says makes it more interesting that they haven't played some of the stuff. Certainly makes me all the more eager to hear them.

[Blackout]

I'll be the first to admit there's no "ohmygod!" song in there (as yet / for me)

Cleaning Up, which I think they've only played about twice, is simply stunning.

I don't believe I have actually heard this "properly". If it was the one I said sounded good at the Scala if only the sound hadn't been so dodgy then yeah, you could be right.

Maybe they dont want to do them until they have them properly nailed. If anything, what gtw says makes it more interesting that they haven't played some of the stuff. Certainly makes me all the more eager to hear them.

Agreed.

[kevo]

I'll be the first to admit there's no "ohmygod!" song in there (as yet / for me)

Cleaning Up, which I think they've only played about twice, is simply stunning.

I don't believe I have actually heard this "properly". If it was the one I said sounded good at the Scala if only the sound hadn't been so dodgy then yeah, you could be right.

Can't remember if they played it at the Scala, but they definitely played it at Audio in Brighton. Both times I've heard it, the sound hasn't been quite right, but you could still tell it has a kind of epic, sweeping grandeur to it, very much in the style of True Adventures.

[redc]

Maybe they'r more difficult to play, live.

Spot on, according to Martin with whom I had a brief conversation before the Scala gig. I asked him if we were going to hear any new, new stuff, and he replied that the choice of songs from the new album was limited as so many were too complex to play live.

I understand what Jules is getting at although I actually like the simple directness of Pyrex as well as the proggy complexity of Zeus. And Cleaning Up at Aldershot was stunning, none of the other times I've heard it have lived up to what I think was it's live debut.

[Ronald Amundsen]

Sorry to dissent,(so unlike me,I hear you cry),but I just don't buy this 'too complex to play live' baloney.
We are talking about a band who have been together for donkey's years,who know each other backwards,and can virtually second guess each others' next note and move.
This is not some bunch of spotty adolescents playing their second gig at Didsbury scout hut.
If you put a track on an album,then you should be able to do a passable version of it live,if you are any kind of accomplished musician.
And BSP are certainly that.
Sometimes I feel that fans on here cut the band just a tad too much slack.
It was a similar litany of excuses when the much-vaunted new album was put back.
Then a support slot for some welsh folk who used to be good,which almost everybody seems to think is a good idea,but I fail to see the logic of.
Maybe I am looking through the wrong end of the telescope here,and it wouldn't be the first time,but please don't tell me that a band I love and respect have trouble playing their own songs on stage.

[nora dindian]

perhaps not trouble playing them, but more perfecting them to a standard they feel acceptable. After all, none of us know how long some of these tracks have been written...some may have lain in the pipeline for some time, whilst others may be raised under a spell of influence or new perspective. Also, could technology not be playing a part, perhaps they'v used stuff in a studio that they cant necessarily transfer to the stage easily..

Fuck knows. Thing is, we'll get them when we get them. I'm as impatient as a lot of you here and cant wait, but would much rather they were happy in delivering them first.

[talia]

Spot on, according to Martin with whom I had a brief conversation before the Scala gig. I asked him if we were going to hear any new, new stuff, and he replied that the choice of songs from the new album was limited as so many were too complex to play live.

If that's the case then they've shot themselves in the foot haven't they? You can't tour a new album you can't play live.
Besides, if they can do Man or Aran so well, surely they can do anything?

[Ronald Amundsen]

Sorry to labour the point,nora,but how exactly will the band get the necessary experience of playing new material live by not playing it live?
I take no pleasure in admitting it,but I remember seeing prog rock bands with a phalanx of keyboards the size of Derbyshire when they played the Apollo,and it didn't stop Wakeman playing note-perfect 40 minute solos,(mores the pity,I hear you cry).
And he was probably tripping off his cape.
How can a tune be so technically demanding that they don't feel confident enough to play it live?
And what weird and wonderful device can be lurking in the studio that defies playing on a stage?
I just don't get it...

[Kattegat]

Maybe they'll do a Beatles and choose studio wizardry over life performance ;)