Another great Subculture night. Taking a female inspired tip, we put on Jaymay, Candie Payne and Saint Etienne – a truly beautiful night. Jaymay kick off proceedings playing a delicate acoustic set, hailing from New York and with a debut album out on Heavenly in November, Jaymay is definitely a name to watch out for in 2008 (one of our favourite new artists).
Candie Payne then took things up another level with a semi-acoustic set especially for the 100 Club. As one reviewer described her “Forget everything that’s happened since 1972 (except perhaps Amy Winehouse who is her nearest contemporary) and wallow in a slick, pumping Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound meets Dusty Springfield production, with a good measure of smoke-filled downstairs dive blues stirred in for seasoning”. Perfect for the atmospheric 100 Club.
And then on came Saint Etienne to a rapturous welcome. Sarah Cracknell typified the strong (and beautiful) front woman and Bob and Pete revelled in the chance to pump out the string of seminal hits that defined the ‘Summer of Love’ in a club that they love.
Only Love Can Break Your Heart and Nothing Can Stop Us Now, - from the ground breaking ‘Foxbase Alpha’ debut album - through to Join Our Club and Who Do You Think You are. Stunning live, it made you remember what a superb and influential band Saint Etienne are (and that ‘Foxbase Alpha’ should be in everyone’s record collection). Playing encore after encore – the audience wouldn’t let them go.
All of the above was interwoven with brilliant female musician inspired sets from Sheila of Cha Cha Charming and the genius on the decks that is Terry Hall. As ever at our nights, all the acts mixed with the crowd in the relaxed vibe that is a Subculture night and then went onto a special after show round the corner at The Heavenly Social - London’s coolest bar. Terry Hall was persuaded to play another impromptu 2 hour set – for a perfect night of musical bliss.
Candie is one of the brightest and, arguably the most beautiful, young singer songwriters on the British music scene. Her songs are cleverly crafted to combine modern back beats, with a lilting 60’s influences. Hailing from Liverpool and from a musical family – two brothers are in the cult band The Zutons – she pays homage to seminal artists such as Dusty Springfield, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and Portishead.
Her music resonates these influences, but has a unique quality of its own via the latest production values and a slight 60’s Indian vibe to the songs (think Beatles – Rubber Soul). As soon as she began her solo work , she was immediately asked to play the opinion forming ‘Later” with Jools Holland – a very high accolade prior to any formal release.
As one reviewer described Candie: “Forget everything that’s happened since 1972 (except perhaps Amy Winehouse who is her nearest contemporary) and wallow in a slick, pumping Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound meets Dusty Springfield production, with a good measure of smoke-filled downstairs dive blues stirred in for seasoning”.
Vocally Candie Payne comes across as a strapping lass, perhaps with a heavily-dyed beehive and fluttering stuck-on lashes thick with mascara, the kind of nightclub singer with a line in sparkly dresses and an anchor tattoo on her bicep, who doesn't take any shit from anyone. more
musicomh.com
Candie Payne is the latest in a long list of talented scousers. And in Candie's case, a woman at the edge. The cutting edge, that is. more
getreadytorock.com
The crackling backgrounds over which she sings are audibly indebted to Portishead. As pitches go, "the trip-hop Cilla Black" should theoretically cause a life-threatening crush at the exits. Yet there she is, enjoying a coveted slot on the biggest music show on TV, and, more bizarre still, seeming weirdly of the moment. more
Guardian
Payne appears to have both feet in the 1960s – Dusty Springfield comparisons have done the rounds, but she also evokes Petula Clark in the strident tone that she adopts intermittently. more
timesonline.co.uk
