Richard Joy was at a packed Jimmy’s on Friday to catch multi-instrumentalist Mutant Vinyl.
If 2019 was a busy year for Edwin James Pope -AKA Mutant Vinyl – the chances are that 2020 is shaping up to be equally exciting. His debut album – Daffodils In Angell Town – was critically praised, and to keep up the momentum this March sees the release of his A Year Of Autumn EP, the lead track Faux Rodeo gaining plenty of support on the airwaves of Ireland. Last week saw him and other artistes play a benefit gig for Alzheimer’s at Liverpool’s Jimmys, and a fantastic night was had by all.
A Mutant Vinyl gig is usually a full-on, energy sapping, sonic assaulting experience, and this gig was no exception. Flanked by trusted musical wingmen, Kobi Pham and Zak Langford-Do, this trio of performers blasted through a six song set which was more like a free-jazz jam, with the original compositions acting as musical references. If it looked like off-the cuff spontaneity then it probably was, but when you are this good at your Art then you can pull it off with ease. And so it was tonight. The trio merged and surged through six tracks of improvisational brilliance, touching base with the compositions 8th & H, Faux Rodeo, Dread and the closer Lavender. Pope commanded the stage like a prize-fighter turned conductor, directing Langford-Do and Pham to new improvisational heights. Exhausting stuff, and I am talking about the effect on the audience.
No Mutant Vinyl gig is the same. But what you are guaranteed is supreme musicianship, charisma and a full on performance. Add that to the great tunes and grooves, you then have a musical experience that is extremely hard to beat.
Mutant Vinyl release A Year Of Autumn via Klee Music on 06.03.20. Available as limited edition 6 track cassette, download and streaming edition.
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Richard Joy
Feature Image Credit: Connor Di Leo
