Since the release of their debut album Lightweights and Gentlemen in 2007, the trio of Lau, featuring Aidan O’Rourke, Kris Drever and Martin Green, have been at the very forefront of re-shaping the boundaries of what we call folk music today. If ever proof was needed that the rule of three harnesses the greatest creative power then look no further than their last studio album Midnight And Closedown which was produced by John Parish. As Neil McFadyen so eloquently described it in his album review:
This is music in evolution – tempo and dynamics are in constant motion, in a state of flux that’s paused and re-started like a tape machine. Melody, poetry, emotion and memory weave in and out like stories.
And that story continues on as they today reveal the release of Unplugged (out on April 17th 2020).
Recorded direct from the concert desk in January 2020 by Lau’s sound engineer Tim Matthew, Unplugged captures Lau live at the start of their Unplugged Tour.
The Scottish trio of Kris Drever, Aidan O’Rourke and Martin Green recreate and rearrange material from across their catalogue for the Unplugged tour and this album highlights about an hour of raw, stripped-down Lau performance, with no studio overdubs or re-recording.
About the release and tour, the band said…
“Unplugged’ means no wires or electronics with the exception of a 4 track tape recorder which seemed reminiscent enough of the old days that we kept that, there are no pedal boards or computers, or wires between instruments and microphones (which are just electronic ears) so it’s very different to our previous shows. The format of performing acoustically was forced upon us one night, our stage equipment and luggage didn’t make it the venue due to an airline mix up so we played unplugged and it felt liberating so we spent a number of months creating a new show without wires.
“After our first Unplugged shows in January, we were inundated with requests for a recording of what the audiences had just heard so it’s great to be able to share a new live album. Tim Matthew, Lau sound engineer and longtime collaborator, records many of our shows. Usually, this is just for reference but this time we felt the recording was of great quality and a strong representation of the concert and have decided to release it.
“Having less equipment has been a genuinely freeing experience and has had the fortunate by-product of making listening a bigger part of this show for us. Having fewer bits of technology to control has been both enjoyable and good for the music, as it helps us focus in even more. We are not returning to the band we were for Lau Live in 2008, this is us as we are now, a completely different band: taking the recent pieces of electronic-based music and making acoustic versions. We had experimented with performing around one microphone as part of the Midnight and Closedown show last year: It felt so good we have expanded this concept further.
“Twenty years into being touring musicians it’s a joy to still be finding new places to play, and not just for the possibility of new service stations or chip shops. We are going to the likes of Greenock, Bodmin, Constantine and Folkestone this summer. Lau will also play a homecoming show at one of our favourite venues – Edinburgh’s Queen Hall. It’s such a great space to hear music and it kind of feels like Lau’s living room now, always a magic night.”
The full list of shows can be found below.
Unplugged is available as a limited edition CD directly from the band’s store (https://laumusic.bigcartel.com/product/lau-unplugged-live-in-concert-cd-album) and concerts, initial pre-orders include a signed A4 photo print.
Unplugged Tracklisting
1. SALTY BOYS
2. ITSHARDTOSEEMTOBEOKWHENYOURENOT
3. RIAD
4. TOY TIGERS
5. SHE PUT ON HER HEADPHONES
6. DARK SECRET
7. ECHOLALIA
8. FAR FROM PORTLAND
9. GHOSTS
Unplugged UK Tour Dates
Wed, MAY 20 – The Beacon Arts Centre Greenock
Thu, MAY 21 – The Tolbooth, Stirling
Fri, MAY 22 – The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Sat, MAY 23 – Sage Gateshead, Gateshead
Mon, MAY 25 – The Live Room, Saltaire
Tue, MAY 26 – Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
Thu, MAY 28 – St Petroc’s Church, Bodmin
Fri, MAY 29 – Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis
Sat, MAY 30 – Tolmen Centre, Constantine
Sun, MAY 31 – Calstock Arts, Calstock
Tue, JUN 2 – Acapela Studio, Cardiff
Wed, JUN 3 – St George’s, Bristol
Thu, JUN 4 – Quarterhouse, Folkestone
Fri, JUN 5 – Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton
Sun, JUN 7 – The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-avon
Mon, JUN 8 – St. Barnabas Church, Cambridge
Tue, JUN 9 – Harpenden Public Halls, Hertfordshire
For full details and ticket links visit: https://www.lau-music.co.uk/gigs
Photo Credit: Genevieve Stevenson