Euros Childs, Tom Low: Leaf, Liverpool

Euros Childs

Celebrating one of our most intriguingly inventive storytellers, Getintothis’ Paul Fitzgerald worships at the church of Euros Childs and is hooked in by his mix of charm, curiosity and boundless nervous energy.

The evening started well upstairs under Leaf’s fairy lights, as the artist formerly known as Thomas McConnell took the stage with his new band, new songs, a totally new sound, a new record deal, and yes, a new name. Tom Low has recently signed with Deltasonic in a deal which sees him step away slightly from his previous heavily Beatles-tinged incarnation, and sees him in striking form with a more accomplished, individual and polished set of mature songs, at times reminiscent of Dennis Wilson, and indeed, his big brother Brian, but also with hints of early 70s Bowie.

There’s a slight edge to this new material, and an intriguing sense of darkness with long stretched out harmonies, and interesting Burt Bacharach style chord progressions. Yes, there’s still a strong 60s influence to the whole, but hey, this is Liverpool, right? If anyone can take this to the next level, its Deltasonic. Tom Low‘s in good hands, and it’ll be interesting to see what happens next for him.

Euros Childs arrives in a flurry of nervous energy which has seemingly kept him going since the days that Gorky’s Zygotic Mynki became NME darlings in the early 90s. Here in town to promote his new album, Sweetheart, he launches striaght into the set, and twitches and strains his way through this fine set of sweet, deftly poised pych pop songs.

Stand-out tracks like the brilliantly put together Fruit And Veg, are lifted by some fine, well-honed harmonies that contrast with the album’s lyricless title track which is delivered by simple, beautiful long-held harmonic notes, intricate flute flourishes, and a warm piano-led accompaniment. As ever, Childs confused and confusing sense of humour links the set, slightly too much sometimes, to be fair, but its that sense of nervous energy that proves infectious.

We’re all happy to contribute suggestions to the band’s on-the-road game of Game Of Death, where you have to fill a commercial airliner (the largest of which holds 544 people), with musicians whom you see fit to meet such an awful demise. It must be said at this point, that, to readers of a certain age, the inclusion of Clare Grogan on such a doomed passenger aircraft, is sheer lunacy. Phil Collins and Noel Gallagher though? Go on then, we’ll let you have them, and for all the right reasons too.

Julia Sky, is yet another simply too pretty for words song from the new LP, bringing with it a singalong moment at the back of the room, with its slight Ray Davies tone, and any fathers of daughters in the house are almost brought babbling to their knees by the utterly spellbinding loveliness of Daddy’s Girl. There are tales of people falling in love with their phones, and bees on bicycles. Of course. Its Euros Childs, after all.

The whole affair, though way over an hour and a half, is over too quick, and we queue in silent awe at the church of merch he’s brought with him, already eagerly anticipating the next album from this most intriguing and curious storyteller.