Inspector Tapehead @ Roxy Art House, 18 April

★★★★

Article by Paul Mitchell | 26 Apr 2010

The Japanese War Effort, aka Jamie, Martin Moog, HRH The King of Poland, that tall male one out of Conquering Animal Sound etc. etc. is proving to be one of the more innovative producers around the 'Burgh and beyond. Moog (we'll stick with that) bursts with clever ideas using predominately lo-fi synths and guitar. Relying heavily on a trusty loop pedal to recreate his oft-complex bedroom recordings, he is entertainment personified, even if the necessary song-building process required can lean a little on the formulaic side.

Nathalie Stern's electro-folk also sees heavy reliance on the aforementioned pedal. Less ambitious than JWE in the range of instrumentation squeezed onto any given loop (in fact, it works less well when she attempts elaboration), the Newcastle-based Swede's sugary vocal lends itself well to rustic folk (especially with some impressive DIY layered harmonies) but an acoustic disco routine is the real highlight.

Glaswegians Inspector Tapehead spend as much time chatting with the crowd and each other as they do playing their music, which could explain why their first album Duress Code, so long in gestation, is finally due out this summer). But the fun-filled nature of this banter carries through into the music; wryly observed harmonious folk-pop which is neatly rendered on nylon-stringed guitar (Chris Croasdale) and drums (Roy Shearer), interspersed with Jonnie Common's (he of Down the Tiny Steps) idiosyncratic keyboard and synth riffs. Pared back and unfussy it may be, but the clever compositions and sense of mischief make for very worthy headliners. [Paul Mitchell]

http://www.myspace.com/inspectortapehead