Wednesday 28/05/08 Liverpool Sound City @ Various Venues, Liverpool

First up today the Domino Records showcase at the increasingly soulless Carling Academy. Arriving in time to see the criminally underrated Eugene McGuiness, Gigwise is on hand to see the London via Liverpool singer backed by a full band. We wonder how the intimacy of last year's acoustic wonder ‘The Early Learning’s of…’ mini album will translate with a full electrical backing. The answer is that unfortunately it doesn’t quite work. Why the decision to present McGuiness this way has been taken it is not clear, his previous incarnation as a lone acoustic ranger went hand in hand with his powerful and literate slices of heart warming folk perfectly well. The band are by no means bad, the guitarist in particular adds impressive Marr like jangles and shrieks over the top of the songs.

The fact remains, however, that adding a plodding three piece into the fray takes songs like ‘Myrtle Parade’ and ‘Wendy Wonders’ and strips them of a layer of magic. Sure they sound bigger and more radio friendly but the added noise pushes McGuiness’ soulful voice down the mix to the point where he can barely be heard. Perhaps we are being too harsh here, the songs are still beautiful and evocative- ‘Girl Whom My Eyes Shine For’ and ‘Bold Street’ sparkle whilst ‘High Score’ provides the set highlight. Overall however we are left with an overwhelming sense of “If it ain’t broken….”.

Anyone who hasn’t seen Lightspeed Champion live must surely have done it through choice as the Dev Hynes fronted vehicle have toured the country relentlessly whilst Hynes has been on a press blitzkrieg seemingly interviewed by every magazine, website and TV show going. In any other hands this assault would be frustrating, in the hands of Lightspeed Champion however, it merely leaves us wanting more. Having seen the band many times before there were no real surprises tonight but the songs from the ‘Beneath The Lavender Tree’ LP continue to improve with age and the live show has become a confident gallop where once it was a nervous stumble.