Lucky Jim @ Hula

Hula: Juice bar, art gallery, and now welcome addition to the much depleted Edinburgh live scene. It ain't what this reviewer is accustomed to, but early evening gigs with fruit smoothies in hand replacing the standard pint of stout might just represent the new departure? Anyway, Edinburgh troubadour Gordon Grahame (aka Lucky Jim) inaugurates this fresh venture with his Dylan/Cohen/Elliot Smith shtick. Singing of life, love and the man above, he certainly doesn't shirk the big ones. Then again, which singer/songwriter worth his or her salt does these days? Leaving originality as the key to preserving interest. An interesting voice, well-judged guitar, but lines like 'Your love takes me higher, your love is the fire in me' don't pass that test alas. Pleasant, but as Kingsley Amis might have put it, perhaps not deserving to be presented under the banner of pâté. [Wilbur Kane]