Hidden Brighton – Hidden Trail Records
We all know a lot of musical creativity resides in this fair city of ours, but even for, ahem… seasoned music journos like myself, it never ceases to surprise me how much there is. 20 years ago we were proud of the fact that The Levellers were from Brighton, and that some 'new wave of new wave' band called These Animal Men were our next big hope. Today, the list is almost endless. There is no scene as such, just lots of different musical tribes, collectives, families, friends and fans, exploring music for the innate pleasure it contains. But there is a friendliness about the musical scene that seems to encourage this large pool of creativity, this melting pot of influences that result in the, almost invariably, interesting and well-thought out creations on show via this compilation from a fledgling local label, and obvious big-time music fans.
Here you'll find some ace garage rock courtesy of Flash Bang Band, female-fronted indie in the form of one-definitely-to-watch Kill Moon, the Warpaint-esque Hella Better Dancer, the haunting shoegazing sounds of The Hundreth Anniversary, the harmony-drenched minimal acoustica of Self Help Group, alt-country flavours courtesy of both The Standard Lamps and The Raving Beauties (who feature Lucky Jim's Gordon Grahame), and the gorgeous indie-folk sounds of Woodland Blue.
Two highlights are the baroque folk textures of uber talented Ellie Ford, a harpist, guitarist, singer songwriter, and also artist: it is her beautiful artwork and design that makes up the gatefold CD version of this release; and the final track, a truly fabulous piece called Swamps, by Us Baby Bear Bones, a track that has already received plaudits for its audacity, it's clear musical vision, superb arrangement and structure, and above all it's drama.
You'll be doing your bit for Brighton music by spreading the word, even if it's just one track you like. Hidden Brighton is a nice idea – we all like to have our secret passions and personal delights – but much of this deserves to come out of the shadows… There is, after all, a big world out there!
Profits from proceeds are going to Grace Eyre, a local organisation that supports people with learning disabilities.
Jeff Hemmings
Band & Track listing
1) Kill Moon – Shine
2) Hella Better Dancer – Sleeptalking
3) The Raving Beauties – Arrows
4) Flash Bang Band – Thinking Above My Station
5) The Standard Lamps – The Cracks
6) The Self Help Group – Kings (Alternate Demo)
7) The Hundredth Anniversary – Last Drive
8) Woodland Blue – Seventeen
9) Fiona Sally Miller – Chalk It Up
10) Ellie Ford – A Word to the Wise
11) tiNhearT – A millioN winterS
12) Kokopelli – How To Be
13) Us Baby Bear Bones – Swamp
