Various Artists - Limbo Live Volume 01
Limbo is a night promoted by the Black Spring DJs at Edinburgh's Voodoo Rooms, and they are releasing the first in a series of live compilations, showcasing the best that their night has to offer.
Limbo have been promoting a weekly night in the plush setting of Edinburgh's Voodoo Rooms for well over a year now, showcasing an unerring menagerie of indie, pop and folky sounds. In addition to booking some of the most diverse Scottish acts, with wonderfully wild, varied bills that have included FOUND, Super Adventure Club and Wounded Knee amongst others, they also find time to book the odd touring band in from the left field, with the Chap, Miss Le Bomb and Micachu all swinging by.
Limbo Live Volume 01 is a who's who of their more regular stars, and the opening half is a bastion of near brilliance. The charming harmonies of Zoey Van Goey, a wonderfully acoustic Meursault, and two epic hits in the form of a bleepy Over The Wall and the aforementioned FOUND deliver the highlights. An internal commentary of between song chatter is an amusing touch, and the gig-like energy never falters. But after expanding their weekly remit from a two band bill to a three early on, Limbo have invariably been caught spreading themselves a little thin, with nights featuring a few quite simply ordinary acts. Forgivable perhaps, as there is a limit to the amount of quality music out there.
However, this cherry-picked compilation still makes room for the bad as well as the good, and wilts toward the end. Several culprits really do let this volume down, as an anti-climatic finale serves up several bouts of by-numbers indie, culminating with Come On Gang!'s SXSW-bothering warbly punk, which is near intolerable. Given Limbo's ear for the interesting, one would have thought they might have avoided a dip in form, but no matter. Enough quality bands are on show here to keep the hit rate high, and should continue attracting the punters to Limbo week after week. And rightly so.