SUNDAY DRIVER, 17th OCT 08, THE JUNCTION, CAMBRIDGE

Strolling along to a local concert nightspot of fine musical repute, I chanced upon a quite strange and wonderful scene. As I stepped out of the Cambridge smog into The Junction, it seemed I had jolly well stumbled upon a grand and lavish gathering of artistic types who, by jove, appeared to belong to a travelling revue! The personnel were even queerer, was that Samuel Pepys I spied indulging in a pre-show beverage? Indeed it may well have been, for the most frightfully bizarre aspect of my new found climate was that I languished in a theatre setting of indeterminate time line, although Pepys aside, most cultural references point to a turn-of-the-century Victorian era. Was that a cry of “please sir can we have some more” I heard a most joyous crowd chanting? Partaking a pinch of snuff, I took to my seat with expectations aroused.

It would appear that the local music combo Sunday Driver have much to celebrate. Not only receiving richly deserved funding, but having also found themselves to be so fertile in the area of composition, they have put these monies towards the creation of a brand new long playing silver disc; far in excess of the standard four songs for a Myspace page (forgive my futuristic terminology) many group ensembles seem to offer these days. They have entitled this new work ‘In The City Of Dreadful Night’ and it is indeed an epic concoction packed with colourful characters, preposterous juxtapositions and derring–do!

More of which later, but first our compeer introduced to the stage a 7-piece by the name of Gabby Young & Other Animals. A most charming Jazz songstress was Gabby, whose swing flavoured material had a splash of avant-garde and they certainly were a bip-dip-bippety-boppin’ skit-cat-skattin’ aplenty on a cover of The Cure’s ‘Lovecats’. Most delightful.

Next up, Beyonder is an intimidating ‘performance poet’ who oscillates on a dimly lit stage, delivering astounding feats of devilish wordplay. So enrapturing are his verses that you barely notice that Sunday Driver are already in our presence, suddenly introducing a small selection of their magical, exotic vibrations. Before they play the main set, Tallulah Mocking Bird takes to the stage to provocatively burst some balloons with a banana and swing her decorative bosoms about! Interesting, Sunday Driver promised an unusual show and they were certainly true to their word.

It was time for the main event and our hosts, having ensured we were exquisitely warmed up, delivered their knock out blow with aplomb. Producing the kind of Acid-Folk, Raga, and World Music with just a hint of Acker Bilk fusion that they do, they’ve every right to present a new work in such a lavish manner. I’ve seen them heave that massive harp around many an inappropriately cramped venue; moving forward suits them well and they fill this larger space quite magnificently. Chandrika Nath is a commanding presence as band leader whose voice never falters; the instrumentalists cook like a band that have taken their chemistry to another level, if I said they had the potential to be Cambridge’s answer to Pentangle I’d mean it as a massive compliment. Suffice to say, a splendid time was enjoyed by all.

Danny Neill