Malcolm Middleton

Having to shoot shite or at least bend the ear of one Malcolm Middleton should be, if you believe everything you hear, a complete nightmare. A former contributing factor as 50% of Scottish post folk indie band and well publicised “miserabilists” Arab Strap – Mr Middleton has forged the persona of a gent who prefers not to be bothered with idle chit chat or people in general for that matter.

And it is all true.

Maybe he was getting his period, maybe it was the time delay, but I am the last on a long list of people to speak with him on this particular day and he does not feel much like talking with me – so I, in turn, don’t feel much like writing a review of his gig I went to see recently. For my mother taught me, if you can’t say anything nice about anyone – don’t say anything at all.

My feelings about Middleton aside, all was not lost during my time at the Hopetoun Hotel that Thursday night – and that it is all by having my knickers thoroughly moistened by a group of 17 year old boys.

No it is not the story line for a child porno, or the bi-line to the latest Bill Henson photograph, it is Papa Vs Pretty – a gaggle of kiddies, who, like the fine wine they are not legally allowed to purchase yet, are only going to get better with age.

They list their influences as Joy Division, Aphex Twin, Elliott Smith, David Bowie, Talking Heads and Tom Waits amongst others – and by god they sound like a cocktail of all of them belnded together with some better mixed in. “We listen to a lot of everything, nothing of which is exactly “similar”. When I write, I don’t try and constrict any genres. I may have one part that is industrial and then randomly flows into a slower piano thing. But I try and and mix up the instrumentation a lot – like have a Elliot Smith style melody in an ambient eletronic setting or have an Aphex Twin style jumbled huridness in an accoustic guitar setting. I don’t think about genres. If something sounds good, I will do it. I don’t think one should restrict their sound just to make it consistent. I am not the biggest fan of consistenciy.” Tom Rawle, head honcho of the ever impressive Papa Vs Pretty so modestly states.

Together now for over 2 years (now I aint no mathlete, but I am pretty sure that makes them 15 at inception) their puzzle piece prociscion astounds and their performance leaves us green with envy of the sheer talent of these youths. Papa Vs Pretty capture our hearts with a marvelous cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart – considering they were but one in a million sperm, and a mere twinkle in thre daddies eyes when it was first aired, our jaws are dropped. They are unequivically splendid, and we are splendidly in awe watching them.

It is all over way to quickly, and every conversation I eaves drop on afterwards, is of he mutual opinion – that these guys are farkin spesh. If you live in Sydney you have the chance to bask in their grateness this weekend. And fool on you if you don’t. Friday night they will be playing with Psychadelic time lords "The Laurels" at the Excelsior, while Saturday night, in a major coup - they will be supporting 78 Saab at the Hopetoun Hotel, Surrey Hills.
Believe you me, this wont be the last you hear of them (or me talking about them.) So do yourselves a favour and catch them this weekend - for their Love will tear us apart cover alone.
They will rock your face.
The End.

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