The Seventeenth Century, Thursday 19/11/09, Bloomsbury Ballroom
Within ten minutes of arriving The Seventeenth Century took their place on stage and went straight into their opening song, an instrumental prologue I believe, where we were given a glimpse of their expansively beautiful concoction of music. Made up of 5 young Scottish musicians; a violinist, a bassist, a drummer, a guitarist and last but not least a cornet player, they together create a band full of naive illustrious music that I am sure will melt the memories of many to come.
Being their first ever gig in London they were eager to impress, the lead singer/violinist even stating that they were all sporting newly bought vintage checked and spotted shirts especially for the occasion. Not afraid to take their time many of The Seventeenth Century’s songs are over six minutes long, allowing the instruments to take over the minds and bodies of the audience below almost allowing them to wander within their own memories of rainy summer days gone by.
I was particularly taken with a live performance of their last single ‘Roses in the Park’ where you were able to hear how the layers added by each instrument developed and added to the overall effect of the song. As well as witnessing exactly how well their vocals entwine with each other to form an orchestral build of power hard to come by at such an early stage in a bands career. (It reminded me of an early Arcade fire song, mixed with newer bands such as Fanfarlo and Stornaway to name but a few). Seriously check out the song Traffic and try not to close your eyes and daydream, it’s hard to simply stay in the room when the music so easily takes you somewhere else entirely.
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