Kelley Stoltz What Were You Thinking (The Borderline, 15th September)

I guess the title speaks for itself. Hell, it sums up most of the story pretty much where Kelley Stoltz is concerned. If this had been a preview I would have seriously urged you to head on down to The Borderline - distance permitting of course. It looks like a London approximation of a Deep South hick bar, if a creation of ambience was required. If you'd have been there, you would have also got to see my mates' wonderful band, The Sugars. They have been featured on this site - admittedly by me - but it is all good. I'll get to them in a sec...

Kelley Stoltz is someone who I have admired for a little while now. He is one of those singer songwriter types who kind of misunderstands the usual concept of that term and pretty much puts whatever he likes into the mix and sees what comes out of all that. Sure a lot of his starting points are those of the lesser spotted troubadour, but that alone would do the lad a disservice. This is a guy who recorded the whole of the Echo and The Bunnymen album Crocodiles, for frigs sake.

The man can on record perfectly capture melody and harmony, into mini pop symphony. No wonder his music has been compared to the Brian Wilson. So why tonight does he sound less like the Beach Boys and more like a cut price Bob Dylan? I thought it would be easy to get angry and write a scathing review, though now listening to the quite excellent Below The Branches album, I am already starting to forgive him, where alcohol wouldn't last night...

I guess finding out he and his band had brought next to no equipment with them, and had borrowed most of what they used from The Sugars and the other support, does suggest a problem. There was little chance the sounds of the record were ever likely to be recreated when your supports do not feature keyboards or trumpets. Basically the kind of instruments, Stoltz uses to pepper his tunes with eccentricities. Instead we are treated to poor renditions of his 'classic' tracks. Nuff said.

The Sugars, in comparison matter, because they understand how to progress their music from record to live setting. Marred only by the fact most of Stoltz's fans are not big on movement or general enthusiasm, or so they would have you believe. The Sugars are glorious, swirling indie. Touching on retro sounds to enhance their modern sensibilities, tonight again showing how much they are developing as a live act. From the toe tapping girl pop of 'Monsters' to 'Black Friday's' R&B infuse indie, its both fluid and a sound all theirs.

I'll limit the gushing praise, because while its deserved it might seem like easy promotion and favouritism on my part. Check out their myspace, make you own decision. Though I will be on about them to all you Roulees pay attention.

Simon J Hill