Young Knives

Young Knives enter the venue through the front door (there's no real back stage as the stage is at the front) and as they walk towards the stage the stacatto riff of Part Timer, the opener from their debut album, echoes around the room as the band make their way through the crowd and up to the stage. Henry wirelessly keeps the hook going until the drums and bass join in and we get an urgent and excitedly delivered perfect few minutes to open this gig here at the best small venue in Cornwall, the Cornish Bank in Falmouth.

This three piece, consisting tonight of a guest drummer, and brothers Henry Dartnall and Thomas Bonsu Dartnall (also known as The House of Lords) have been going for 20 odd years now and as Henry mentions keep evolving in their sound. They are wonderfully and predictably unpredictable. From the hook filled indie of the early stuff, to the more accomplished rock of Superabundance,to the frantic noise of Barbarians ,and the more introspective ideas on the new album Landfill.

Tonight, every song is delivered with urgency, passion and sometimes a firm tongue in the cheek.

The banter between the brothers tonight is priceless. Henry's constant quick wit is rebounded by the occasional dry, sometimes cutting quip from the House of Lords (so called because he used to veto so many of the bands ideas). Henry has a witty comment or two between every song, and he exhudes confidence and humour and gets us properly emmersed in the Young Knives experience.

Terra Firma gets a big singalong early on, Barbarians is just plain mental and She's Attracted To is genius. With it's repetetive and insanely catchy bassline that leads into the immortal first line "Who are these people? They are too stupid to be your real parents" and finishes with "You were screaming at your Mum and I was punching your Dad", the whole crowd singing along, what a moment!

Pick of the new songs from Landfill has to be recent single, Your Car Has Arrived, this song is filled with emotion, feeling, melody and quite simply, pure genius. The big sound this three piece manage to put out is incredible. If you have a moment, check out the bands website for the heartbreaking story behind the song, and buy a copy on 12" while you have the chance.

Near the end of the set, Henry introduces one of their best, and classic numbers, The Decision, sung by his brother, sometimes well, and sometimes not so well.....Tonight, the House of Lords pulls it off, the haunting melodies of this song always pulls up images of The Wicker Man ( the original Edward Woodward version) to me for some reason, brilliant.

Weekends and Bleak Days, probably their best known, and impossibly hook filled early single is the obvious finisher to a fantastic gig. We are fortunate and lucky to have seen Young Knives tonight, the latest in an encouraging run of eclectic and exciting acts to play at this so very cool venue. More please!