13 March 2009 (gig)
16 April 2009
As the headliners take to the stage it’s clear to The Cockpit’s sell-out crowd that they are about to witness something more subtle and low-key than the previous acts on tonight’s bill. Ellen and The Escapades are not a band that rely on energetic stage presence, or pseudo-rockstar posturing to hold their audience rapt.
Looking, and sounding, like they’d be far more at home in Nashville than West Yorkshire; all country-chic, plaid, flannel and cowboy boots, the band immediately settle into an understated set of original material, briefly interrupted by an ambitious and haunting take on Dylan’s 'I Shall Be Released’. First single 'Without You’ is an upbeat indie/country number, complete with frantic guitar riff, swirling organ and catchy harmonica hook, that puts an unusually positive spin on the conventional break-up song; with lines such as 'now you’ve gone away there’s better ways to fill my days without you’ delivered with heartfelt defiance. 'Run’ and set-highlight 'Yours To Keep’ are more sombre affairs, with the latter in particular conjuring up comparisons to Ryan Adams and Damien Rice at their most melancholic.
If there’s any criticism to be made of the evening’s set, it’s the relative lack of contrast in both pacing and tempo, and, whilst there are very few weak songs in their repertoire, you can’t help but feel that this lively Friday night crowd would’ve appreciated a bit more dynamic variation. That said, the band manage to pull off the abundance of low-key material through their brilliantly ethereal arrangements, and haunting vocal harmonies.
Whilst all involved are obviously talented musicians, and they are an extremely tight unit, the band’s main strength is clearly their front-woman and chief singer/songwriter, Ellen Smith. Her sultry vocal style soars from whisper to floating falsetto and sets her band apart from their contemporaries, making music that could otherwise appear derivative sound fresh and unique.
