TAXIDERMY. (With ZUZU and INDIGO ASHES).

The Horn, St Albans. Thursday 30th April 2015.

Tonight I have ventured over to St Albans for a Juicebox showcase night. I have come to review a performance by a new alternative rock band from Bedford, interestingly enough called TAXIDERMY. I'm sure that the members of this quartet will be no strangers of those of you who regularly go to gigs in Bedford. They comprise Antony Cooper (ex-Wolf Law and Abrasions, guitar), Amy Mason (Acoustic Amy and ex-Abrasions, vocals), Josh Johnson (ex-Filthy Visuals, bass) and James Finnie (Council Tax Band, drums). Their story began many many months ago when they were holed up together in a strange and top secret location (Antony's bedroom!), secluded well away from the masses. They fell prey to some free-flowing creative madness. Those long weeks of continuous experimentation and practice finally led to their debut appearance on Easter Sunday at their collective spiritual home, The Bear pub on Bedford's High Street.

A decent travelling support on what is a 'school night' Thursday provides some warm and friendly faces for the band to gaze upon from the tiny stage. Indeed later on in the set, a couple of ladies decide to spontaneously engage in some creative nymph-like dancing close up to the band. Well it does make a change from moshing! Taxidermy begin with a trio driven instrumental which Amy watches from the sidelines. The lads build up the grooves slowly, an esoteric sound which reminds this reviewer of something Mogwai-like. The cheerful bespectacled vocalist joins in on the following "Fish". This, as with the rest of the songs, contains some intricate rhythms creating shifting moods. Amy wears a long bohemian dress while the lights dazzle on her green hair. Her 'folky' vocals melt into the art rock guitar work and the jazzy vibes that James cooks up with his drum skills. Thankfully for the animal lovers amongst us, Taxidermy do not offer a stage spot for a stuffed talismatic mascot to support their band name, but Josh is resplendent with a long furry tail that sprouts out from his headwear.

Drinking lyrics feature frequently throughout their songs, probably not that surprising if you know the individuals. "Shots" sees the band repeatedly singing "another shot". My favourite composition from the Taxidermy set has to be "Nite / Tyme". It is spiky edged and Amy sings emotively "feels like trying to feel your way in the dark". What musical concoctions came to my mind as I watch these musicians go through their impressive paces? Well, I might proffer Pentangle meets Wire on the summer solstice at Stonehenge; the stones glistening in the hot June sun with perfumed smoke smells emanating all around me! Terminologies abound the quartet's sound, folkadelic jazz perhaps? In reflection, I am relishing seeing Taxidermy again, complete with their shimmering displays of melodic creativity. I sense that they are trying hard to offer something a lot different on the local scene, which does badly need a shot in the arm.

Review by Martin Stapleton.