Thank you Gary. We appreciate your work ;)
This was one of the three October 2022 gigs that briefly featured Nic Willes as a guitarist again, only a month or so after having been thanked for his participation during the summer shows as Justin returned. At the time of writing, Justin is now back on stage as an Editor. As I said in the Hamburg write-up, I still have no idea what went on here and it looks as though a dignified silence is being adopted by those in the know. Which is, of course, everybody's right to do. Just because you buy the ticket/album/t-shirt doesn't automatically give you VIP access to all of Editors' secrets (oh, if only it did!). If something is wrong, and they feel like it's relevant to tell us, I'm sure they will. However, it doesn't remove or assuage the continuing concern that Justin's doing OK.
When Gary sent me this gig, it was with some regret on his part because he isn't entirely happy with the way it turned out sound-wise. Historically, the man has very high standards when it comes to what he puts out there. The only thing I notice is that Ed's kick drum is extremely present in the mix, making it a little distorted at times (and I mean a little). However, there are times when it's actually a benefit to the sound, making the percussion land like artillary fire. Picturesque, for example, absolutely hits like a baseball bat from the start because of it. Also, you can hear the backing vocal parts in Gary's taping of it much more clearly than in other live recordings and videos online. It's crazy how much is going on in that song, how many different ingredients it takes to create that sound.
I'm really liking the way that Tom delivers the "No-one will love you more than I do" line in the outro in Heart Attack. He's a step behind the beat, and it gives it this added layer of weary sadness. Almost as if the words are being dragged out of him rather than proclaimed with any kind of joy.
Even though this happened within the last week, you'll notice it has a different setlist. All the Kings and Frankenstein would be appearing shortly.
It's been interesting to watch Tom's continuing development of his stage persona. Back in 2003 when he was fronting Snowfield, as they were called then, and then on through the Back Room tours it seemed to be all about the struggle harness and repress energy. All coupled with the nerves that come with being vulnerable in front of groups of people. Then after they toured with R.E.M. in 2008 things seemed to shift. He began to exaggerate certain aspects of his nature, possibly inventing some new ones and starting to shape this other version of himself. A character that is born to perform at the start of the set but then retires at the end of each night. As Tom Yorke sings in How to Disappear Completely
"That there, that's not me."
Which brings us to Strange Intimacy. It's a track that speaks to Editors' ability to transform their songs into other things when they play live. Go listen to the studio take and then visit with this one and you'll see the difference pretty clearly. The Copenhagen version sounds...vengeful, while the EMB recording has a polished, light texture.
I also think it demonstrates what I was saying about Tom being someone else on stage. Strange Intimacy is a song showing two personalities when they play it, and Tom approaches it as such. The verses descend into what sound like the vocal threats and regrets of a broken, drunk and angry man with a megaphone before the chorus comes around to lift everything back up again. Additionally, the verses aren't delivered in any particular key or tone, they're almost spat out with certain phrasings being extended or clipped. It's such a weird trick being executed, of balancing two approaches and coupling emotion, anxiety and beautiful melodies at the same time. I've tried to imagine Tom doing this in 2005 and I just can't make it a viable image, but then he wouldn't have been writing songs like these then anyway. He was (and still is) on the way to becoming who he'll ultimately end up being.
It's been interesting to watch Tom's continuing development of his stage persona. Back in 2003 when he was fronting Snowfield, as they were called then, and then on through the Back Room tours it seemed to be all about the struggle harness and repress energy. All coupled with the nerves that come with being vulnerable in front of groups of people. Then after they toured with R.E.M. in 2008 things seemed to shift. He began to exaggerate certain aspects of his nature, possibly inventing some new ones and starting to shape this other version of himself. A character that is born to perform at the start of the set but then retires at the end of each night. As Tom Yorke sings in How to Disappear Completely
"That there, that's not me."
Which brings us to Strange Intimacy. It's a track that speaks to Editors' ability to transform their songs into other things when they play live. Go listen to the studio take and then visit with this one and you'll see the difference pretty clearly. The Copenhagen version sounds...vengeful, while the EMB recording has a polished, light texture.
I also think it demonstrates what I was saying about Tom being someone else on stage. Strange Intimacy is a song showing two personalities when they play it, and Tom approaches it as such. The verses descend into what sound like the vocal threats and regrets of a broken, drunk and angry man with a megaphone before the chorus comes around to lift everything back up again. Additionally, the verses aren't delivered in any particular key or tone, they're almost spat out with certain phrasings being extended or clipped. It's such a weird trick being executed, of balancing two approaches and coupling emotion, anxiety and beautiful melodies at the same time. I've tried to imagine Tom doing this in 2005 and I just can't make it a viable image, but then he wouldn't have been writing songs like these then anyway. He was (and still is) on the way to becoming who he'll ultimately end up being.
Enjoy the music ;)
stream it here
MP3s
Heart Attack - download here
Strawberry Lemonade - download here
Bones - download here
Karma Climb - download here
Picturesque - download here
In This Light and on This Evening - download here
Sugar - download here
Magazine - download here
All Sparks - download here
Vibe - download here
The Racing Rats - download here
Nothing (acoustic) - download here
Blood - download here
Smokers - download here
Kiss - download here
Strange Intimacy - download here
An End Has a Start - download here
Munich - download here
Papillon - download here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love ;) x
MP3s
Heart Attack - download here
Strawberry Lemonade - download here
Bones - download here
Karma Climb - download here
Picturesque - download here
In This Light and on This Evening - download here
Sugar - download here
Magazine - download here
All Sparks - download here
Vibe - download here
The Racing Rats - download here
Nothing (acoustic) - download here
Blood - download here
Smokers - download here
Kiss - download here
Strange Intimacy - download here
An End Has a Start - download here
Munich - download here
Papillon - download here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love ;) x
