McAlmont & Butler - London Cherry Jam - 30/05/02
4/5
By: Toby L
'So, erm, I'm what-cha-ma-call-it,' announces an ever-defiant David McAlmont from the stage in-front, going on to point at Bernard Butler to his right, revealing, 'And that's what's his face.' Well, guys, it may have been quite some time, but we're hardly likely to forget just who you are yet...
After all, McAlmont & Butler together produced one of the mid-90s' most memorable singles and the simultaneous biggest red-herring in an era otherwise consisting of Britpop. The tune? 'Yes': flourishes of strings, an ever-exquisite performance from the falsetto-king, David himself, and guitar-twangs and noises only last seen at that point during Suede's early rise - indeed, the seminal band that Bernard originally began his career within. Aside from the top-ten smash in the bag, however, the duo also released a further hit - 'You Do' - not to mention an album, entitled rather simply 'The Sound Of McAlmont & Butler'.
Following such successes, a cult fan-base forming and some sterling live-outings to boot, things sadly came to an unexpected halt. The music-press, in its inimitable style - as ridiculed onstage during this evening by the singer - claimed the pair had fallen out, deciding to express themselves more freely by the decisions to become solo-artists. Sadly, however, the levels of prominence reached individually were hardly as momentous as they had become accustomed to during their prior format. But, after all this time, they're both back together again, writing new material and playing low-key acoustic performances such as the one experienced tonight in a packed Cherry Jam.
Suiting the ambience of the occasion, the audience located in the main floor of the basement-room choose to sit down as the couple assemble their places on the (hardly) raised platform. The applause and cheers are somewhat deafening, and the twosome glare back at the attendees beaming with sincere appreciation. The following forty-five minutes is occupied by a most mouth-droppingly moving effort; whilst Butler strides sleekly and eloquently through the full harmonics to be found on six and twelve string guitars, McAlmont merely claps his hands and shakes a tambourine, singing all the while as a man possessed by a necessity to dumbfound spectators with his high-pitched though entirely endearing tone of voice... To say that we could have heard such a splendour all night would be a most truthful statement.
Musically, the tracks played included an occasional toned-down blues-country number - 'Play On', for instance - a wistful run-through of the aforementioned 'You Do', plus a startling untitled new track from their emerging second album - due out in August - whose 'I never wanted to hear you say goodbye' lyrical sentiment and utterly involving beauty is only bettered by the downbeat melancholic delight of 'Blue'. By the time they reach their inevitable landmark moment of the occasion - of course, 'Yes' - the pleasure is seemingly not all ours, the songsmiths themselves smiling so much that the melting chorus became even more uplifting - a feat once presumed unlikely.
As proven, the re-arrival of M&B is, for once, a welcome and valid return from artists once expected to only to exist in the past. And to encounter such a special display of musicianship in such a close proximity may seem a rare opportunity, but it ain't yet - the two reveal at the end of the rapturously-received set that they'll be back for a four-night residency of this venue in July. And, if you've got a heart, you'll be there - enjoying the well-earned triumph with them.
Artists in this article: McAlmont & Butler
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