Live review: Moulettes @ Folk on the Dock 26/08/17
Live review: Moulettes
Date: Saturday 26th August 2017
Venue: Folk on the Dock, Albert Dock
Reviewer: Denis Parkinson
Folk on the Dock at Albert Dock, Liverpool is a festival that embraces a particular type of music. The clue is, of course, in the title and it can be important to people to categorise their musical pleasures by genre. While this can lead to an ordered music collection it can also risk missing music that doesn’t quite fit into established definitions. Thankfully this festival has a broad view of music and a great example of this eclectic approach is Moulettes. The Brighton based band defy genre and were a huge asset to the second Folk on the Dock festival this late August Bank Holiday weekend.
Moulettes were, on this occasion, stripped down to a four piece incarnation. There are additional personal added depending on the situation. Hannah Miller, Cello; Raevennan Husbandes, Guitar; Ollie Austin, drums and Jim Mortimore, bass made the Main Stage their own last Saturday afternoon. Delivering a mesmerising set, that was largely based on their recent fourth album Preternatural, they were welcomed by an appreciative and open-minded Liverpool audience.
This is music with many elements, gorgeous harmonies, classical cello, rock guitar and everything in between. There are jazz, folk and pop sensibilities coexisting with what can only be described as progressive music. Moulettes are a prog-rock folk band if we really need to categorise them. They sound like Yes crossed with Fairport Convention and the gothic majesty of Nick Cave. Mind-blowing stuff indeed.
Their latest material is inspired by the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. A high concept approach that is original and intelligent. Songs such as Coral and Behemooth evoke the mystery and power of nature. Delivered with consummate skill and confidence the performance was stunning. Pufferfish Love made me think of its namesake in a new way and Parasite was used to great effect to describe the influence of Rupert Murdoch and his ilk on society. The most original insult heard for some time. Older song Songbird illustrates the journey that Moulettes are on. More traditionally “folk” it highlighted the complexity and depth of the current material. This is a great band getting better by the day.
In summary Moulettes are a folk, jazz, prog-rock, pop, David Attenborough influenced band that have taken elements of musical history and forged something new. They return to Liverpool Philharmonic’s Music Room on 3rd December 2017. There is no doubt this will be spectacular. Your only question might be where to file their music in your collection and the answer to that is easy. File under M for Moulettes, Q for quality or O for originality.
Denis Parkinson
Review © 2017 Denis Parkinson, Liverpool Acoustic