What better way to celebrate both Friday and more importantly International Women’s Day than with the long-awaited debut album by The Laurettes, an album which just so happens to be hitting the airwaves and making its indelible mark on the world this weekend.
Having worked harder than just about every band I could think of on the live circuit, perhaps with the exception of Tbe Courettes, The Laurettes have tirelessly played gigs and festivals, big and small, building their reputation as a fearsome live prospect and the ultimate party starters. This has led up to where they find themselves today, paving their way to the release of Meet Me at the Mainstage, and in doing so, they have continued to make their own way up the bills of festivals left, right and centre, soon to be Mainstage headliners if their stellar trajectory continues on its current path.
Meet Me at the Mainstage is the sound of a band living their best lives. The album, recorded with Keith Morrison in the Wee Studio, Stornaway, is packed with tales of their love of music – playing and watching/listening, friendships – old and new, unbridled reverie and generally letting loose, and possibly even the sinking of a few drinks may be involved. Perhaps more fittingly for today it is the sound of a band celebrating and recognising fiery strong women in music and society, who, in some cases have been wronged (Witches) and in others, like on Upty Us, is celebration of these fiercely independent women making their own decisions and choices to make the most of life, with a virtual rigid middle finger raised to anyone who disagrees or tries to stop them.
It is impossible to listen to the sound that they make on Mainstage without feeling invigorated and inspired, and with a renewed appreciation for living in the moment, not dwelling on the past or worrying about what the future may or may not bring. The title song itself imbues this very thought process, the lyrics opening with “what if we go tomorrow, what if it’s our time?”, before discounting this notion quickly with the living for the moment thought, “but at least we’ve got tonight” and encouraging you to meet them at the main stage “two drinks in my hand, put me on your shoulders, then ask me for a dance”. No place here for dour faces.
Talking of Fridays, “It’s five o’clock on a Friday night” sing the band on Burn, lighting the blue touch paper for a Friday night (weekend long?) party… I think you get the message. This is a band on a mission to have a good time. Try stopping them at your peril…because quite literally they’re Not Going Home as the good time continues in a “bar queue 5 deep”, the weekends been a long time coming, and they’re out til tomorrow…
Dopamine follows taking us on the pathway to pleasure, as if the opening trio of tunes hadn’t already taken us there. I mean, I’m on a train home from Leeds after a long week, I’ve got no chance of getting near a pub any time soon but even I feel buzzing. The buzz continues with a message to us all, No Chance (Old Disgracefully), I’m up for the challenge, who’s with me?
Chase the Waves takes the pace down a notch with reflections of travels around the Highlands and Islands, a theme carried into the fiddle driven upbeat and celebratory Tales of Tiree. Pints of black velvet and rugby are celebrated on the Guinness, if you’ve attended a Six Nations match at Murrayfield I’m sure you’ll have come across The Laurettes entertaining fans pre-match.
The aforementioned Upty Us has a melancholy feel to it, the song opens up with the line “it’s not quite where I thought I’d be” but this feels like a happy melancholy. I mentioned the band living their best lives earlier, that message is everything to do with this song. It brings a happy/sad lump to my throat as their words tell of the ups and downs of escaping the rat race and living this life by the seat of their pants, the messages resonate and a pang of jealousy raises its head.
A brace of the bands singles follows, kicking off with their immensely powerful single from last year, Witches. This song feels like a perfect message of respect and recognition of women wronged. As I wrote when I reviewed the single… The Laurettes certainly have a fire in their bellies, a flame ignited by indignant rage at the outrageously cruel and unjust trials that resulted in the lubricious death of countless innocent women. As The Laurettes said in their interview, they have a voice, and they’re damned well going to use it. Their incensed frustration is portrayed in the vigorously spirited performance of Witches. “Hell has no fury like a woman scorned” they sing as they curse the accusers “set fire to the jury, we witches never burn”. The drums bring the musical thunder as the divine harmonies, fiddle and acoustic guitar blended with subtle electric riffs channel Fleetwood Mac taking on The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
The familiar Homebird is another upbeat romp with fiddle and drums underlining their tale of “flying free” on the West Highland Way, with the realisation of feeling at home in their glorious surroundings regardless of where they are going, “I don’t know where I’m heading but I’ll be OK”, and the melody and lyrics including a wee nod to Paulo Nutini.
If you’ve ever seen The Laurettes live, you’ll know there is only one song they could possibly end their album with. It can only be the story of the Techno Viking, which has become their awesome gig party starter with its Heave Ho refrain and audience participation. I hope you’re all Heave Ho-ing in your living rooms as you listen…
I’m sure if you’re heading to a summer festival somewhere around Scotland this year you’ll catch The Laurettea live. Get along to HMV in Glasgow tomorrow (9th March) for an instore album launch set.
Perfectly sums up the girls and the album.