On that note, The Untied Knot continues to be grateful to the shows which have exposed its music to a wider audience. In particular, Jeffery Davison’s  Shrunken Planet show on WFMU which has recently played “Requiem For The Thirteen” and “Pelham Street” and possibly our biggest fan outside the UK, Fernando Pérez Herrero who has spun “Low Tide” and “Spanish Pine” in the last few weeks on Cielo líquido . It’s especially nice to hear our music amongst such great company…

More airplay from Fernando (a man of exceptionally good taste) on the Cielo líquido show on Spanish radio channel canal extremadura last night, “Requiem For The Thirteeen” was played – technically on Thurs 28/1/10. See more about the show here

The Untied Knot – At The Threshold Of Perception (Promo film 2009) from The Untied Knot on Vimeo.

Certain people talk about “outsider artists” but Liam Hayes and his music seems to exist in a timeless bubble somewhere on the outskirts of the music scene, untouched by any trends or concessions to the present millennium. There’s a strange inevitability that; as he has for about 15 years or so, Hayes will continue to create music with an inexplicably select appeal as it grows in melodic richness and pop sensibility. In short, he’s one of those guys who should be huge. This is made even more evident as he and Jimmy kick into “Take A Chance” the lead-off track from “Bright Penny” and biggest hit-single-that-never-was of 2009 (or is it 1973?). The sound of the Fender Rhodes is almost uniquely evocative in the way it captures a specific era i.e. the odd pre-punk wilderness of the early/mid 70s mainstream and the use of two makes for an ideal method of articulating the sound of Plush. I’ve tried many times to pin down the influences that make up this sound but on the whole they remain fleeting and mercurial at best – I have heard hints of Brian Wilson, Curtis Mayfield, Burt Bacharach, Alex Chilton, Marvin Gaye & Neil Young (later we also agree on The Carpenters and The Doors with Jimmy). Regardless of this, Plush has a sound that vividly transports me back to an early childhood of chart friendly soft rock and soul soaked up through my little blue battery powered AM radio. But don’t let that put you off…Hayes has a voice that could blunt the most embittered cynic and tunes which make grown men smile rather than weep – it’s no mean achievement. There are highlights from all three albums tonight and the set is received rapturously by the small but unusually vociferous crowd.

Both of us are enthused and while I go off to chat to Alan whose label Broken Horse released the latest album, Matt takes the opportunity to collar Mr Jimmy (right) and congratulate him on the night’s performance. Plush have given Matt his mojo back and we join Jimmy upstairs for a(nother) pint, he turns out to be charming company and regales us with tales of his many bands and his sweetheart back home in Nashville.

By now, the evening has turned into “An Audience With Matt and Nige” as we welcome Liam Hayes to our bar-based chat show. Our protestations at his lack of more widespread acclaim are greeted mostly with bemusement  so we move on to  chords stretching over four frets, analogue recording,  his “daring choice of patent leather shoes”  (my words) and god knows what else. I have to admit, it’s all got a bit hazy by now but to his credit he’s either too polite to make his excuses and leave or we’re making some sort of sense – who knows? Anyway, I have a coach to catch to Bristol the next morning so it’s one for the road and off to flag down the sodding night bus. Happily, this is one of those rare nights that refuses to be spoiled by such trifles…

Thanks to Matt for his super “lo-fi” photos.

And here’s a clip from the gig I’ve just discovered:

Thanks to http://mapsadaisical.wordpress.com/ for this nice photo

Neil Campbell’s (a.k.a. Astral Social Club) set is the equivalent of ingesting a supercharged chunk of good acid during an electrical storm. As he plate-spins effects pedals and mic-manipulates layers of dense disjointed (near impossible to) dance (to) music, the visuals sketch out complex ever-changing geometric line patterns. Even the sound of a mobile going off during a subdued section doesn’t detract from this extended episode  of sensory euphoria. Sweet.

Skaters have cancelled so Alexander Tucker steps breach-wards with a set of looped cello narratives. I always enjoy his shows and always seem to catch him more by accident then design – this is no exception. The night is cut short as my companion requires a taxi to ferry us across London to last orders at a theatre bar – this, if nothing else is an excuse for tequila. Goodnight.

“Sketches For A Lost Summer” is now on Spotify so you lucky people can hear the whole of the album by clicking here…

For those who aren’t familiar with Spotify – it’s a huge free on-line music streaming resource, effectively a radio station where you select what you want to hear.  As well as big-shots like David Bowie, Neil Young and The Beach Boys you’ll find all sorts of more esoteric stuff including loads of my faves like The Durutti Column, Robbie Basho & Popol Vuh.