The Music - 'Live At The Blank Canvas' (Hut)
4/5
By: Matt Tomiak
A no-frills - or at least, minimal frills - DVD-recording of the whole of The Music's 'homecoming' gig at a particularly sweaty Blank Canvas, Leeds in September 2002.
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There's twelve tracks here, four of which not featured on the band's eponymous debut-LP; the ragged groove of 'Jag Tune', unifying elevation of 'Let Love Be The Healer', blaring atmospherics of 'The Walls Get Smaller', and a white-hot rendition of 'New Instrumental'.
Director Charles Mehling keeps things pretty basic throughout, although there's a small concession to artiness by the inclusion of some rather grainy footage of the lads' hometown of Kippax, near Leeds, in the opening sequence. And whilst there's no fancy extras/special features included, the performance is peppered with interviews: we see the whole band together, guitarist Adam Nutter describing the perils of his old school, as populated by some 'right criminals', whilst bassist Stu Coleman cites the release of Nirvana's 'Nevermind' as the distinguishable turning-point in his life. Then there's the obligatory enthusiastic fans ('You Gotta Take The Long Road... and STRUT IT!!'), frontman Rob Harvey by himself, and the hands-rubbing concert-promoter.
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So, essentially, 'Live At The Blank Canvas' is a live album interspersed with pictures: but a bloomin' great one, mind. The band's captivating light-show is faithfully recaptured, and the sound-quality is peerless throughout, with a startling rendition of 'The People' marking the standout highlight.
Retailing at under a tenner at most outlets, this DVD-package is a comprehensive, albeit simplistic, account of one of the key career moments of the UK's slowly-becoming-perennial, and wildly young, quartet. Purchase: necessary.
Artists in this article: The Music
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