Lee Patterson @ Whistlebinkies
So vivid are his depictions of Edinburgh life that you can almost taste the sea breeze as he recites his tales of Leith
| 10 Feb 2007
Steeped in the sort of late night tales that can only normally come from viewing the world through the bottom of a glass, Lee Patterson wears the occupation of local troubadour well. Turning the traditional image of the acoustic singer/songwriter on its head, Patterson is far from conventional and comes over all Tom Waits at first, strumming along in a melancholic manner to the sermon that he is giving those present. Changing the pace constantly from wistful folk to foot-stomping blues and with more than a nod to the gospel of the Deep South, Patterson clearly isn't your usual solo singer. With more than a passing nod to Van the Man, lyrically it's possible to see and feel the people he sings about. So vivid are his depictions of Edinburgh life that you can almost taste the sea breeze as he recites his tales of Leith.
When Patterson puts down his guitar to pick up the washboard, it's with no surprise that's he's as confident with this as with the more conventional instruments. There's even an outing of 'Tell Me Ma', but this time an accompaniment by the bodhran lends the tune a sensation that is altogether more ominous. Sounding as though he is being echoed by distant war drums rolling over the hills, straight out of a 1950s b-movie, this gives the tune a fresh feel which sets it apart from the hundreds of versions we've heard before.
With his own material including 'Jock Tamson' and the brilliant 'Esther' lifted from the recent Grinder's Monkey sounding as aggressive and emotional as you would expect, it's a testament to the material that Lee never comes across as being bitter. If what you're looking for are more tales from a friend than another angry rant, in Lee Patterson you can't go far wrong. [Garry Thomson]
When Patterson puts down his guitar to pick up the washboard, it's with no surprise that's he's as confident with this as with the more conventional instruments. There's even an outing of 'Tell Me Ma', but this time an accompaniment by the bodhran lends the tune a sensation that is altogether more ominous. Sounding as though he is being echoed by distant war drums rolling over the hills, straight out of a 1950s b-movie, this gives the tune a fresh feel which sets it apart from the hundreds of versions we've heard before.
With his own material including 'Jock Tamson' and the brilliant 'Esther' lifted from the recent Grinder's Monkey sounding as aggressive and emotional as you would expect, it's a testament to the material that Lee never comes across as being bitter. If what you're looking for are more tales from a friend than another angry rant, in Lee Patterson you can't go far wrong. [Garry Thomson]