Monkey Swallows the Universe – Live, Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Monday 11th February 2008
This was the last ever gig, barring a surprise reunion, by Sheffield folk-pop wonders Monkey Swallows the Universe. I interviewed them beforehand, so I’ll write more about the split in due course. In many ways it was a disastrous interview, but perhaps the more interesting for it in some ways, but I’ll let you come to your own conclusions on that when the time comes.
This was one of those rare occasions where the Edinburgh crowd suddenly and surprisingly has one of its good days. Cutting edge indie may go down like a shit sandwich in this city, but slightly eccentric folk music is dearly loved and Cabaret Voltaire was full of a very appreciative crowd. After a couple of slightly bizarre gigs in Scotland, the band seemed relieved and pleased to be playing their last gig in front of a healthy audience who gave them plenty of love.
Well as they played though, and as good a reception as they got, it still seemed just a little like a wake unfortunately. They were a great band, and it’s a crying shame that they’re packing it in, albeit not necessarily permanently.
Monkey Swallows the Universe – The Chicken Fat Waltz I called for this during the encore, and many thanks to Kev who just started playing it, despite the band’s protests (”We haven’t practised this one!”) until they all just joined in. Brilliant.
Monkey Swallows the Universe – Little Polveir
website | hype | buy the casket letters from loose
See, I was confused. They were split up, they are doing final gigs, they weren’t doing gigs, they released an album, they were spit up, blah blah blah.
I’ll have to wait for the interview, then, to see how they explain this slow-mo car crash.
i was at this too. i agree, they were pretty good, but just too NICE for my taste. when there are other melodic folksters like Beirut and Sufajn Stevens doing this in a much more exciting way, you can’t really argue with their decision to call time. still, a shame nonetheless.
No, I’d never consider them exciting exactly. Zach Condon and Sufjan Stevens are genuine innovators – although we’ll see where Beirut go from here, as the last one wasn’t a massive step – and I wouldn’t put MStU in the same category at all.
There’s something more pastoral, comfortable and winsome about them. It’s definitely a loveliness that can easily slip into the overly nice, as you say. But if you like the songs enough, as I tend to, then I don’t think that’s something to worry about. I still find The Casket Letters in particular to be really satisfying.
But they aren’t going to knock anyone’s socks off (well, definitely not now) that’s for sure, which may be why it took me so long to realise how much I actually like The Casket Letters in the first place. So I don’t know if I’m agreeing with you or disagreeing, but I guess it just comes down to the fact that, reasoning aside, I probably just like them more than you.
First time I heard or heard of them and I don’t normally listen to indie folk, having been scared off by emo years ago, but these tracks were refreshing and definately deserve merit. There’s also a slight prog feel to their sound, as well, that piques my interest. They should, at least, try another studio effort just to see what may come. I’m sure touring is why they’re breaking up. It’s why most bands break up. But, I’m sure a little knob twiddling and some guitar noodling in the confines of a well financed studio should help to discover some intriguing directions for the band.