Upon receiving my wristband from the store earlier on in the day after picking up Charlie Boyer &The Voyeurs’ debut album ‘Clarietta’, I found myself in a strange and small yet intrigued crowd ready to sample the live act. With this being the second time I’d seen them, I was certainly more eager to taster the rather ‘new’ stuff from the album. Starting with the fuzzy glam rock of ‘Go Blow A Gale’, it was like being rooted in New York in the 1970s. The simple layering of scuzzy guitars, modest drumbeat and organ fade makes the song and the set an easy, enjoyable listen. Through set favourite ‘Be Nice’ and the title song of the album, Charlie scouts the audience to stare into your eyes as if a test to see whether you do know the words – especially during the beguiling chorus of ‘Clarietta’. The catchy, raucous rhythms fit into the classic indie genre, giving the band’s look and haircuts a cause. The live show seeming a lot more punchy and brutal with seeming pent-up aggression than on record (to which is very easy listening); Charlie yowls through fan choice ‘Be Glamorous’ which brings the biggest applause of the early evening.
Photo (C) of GREGWA
Bringing out it’s B-side ‘It’s My Wish’ shows that this show is just not about an album launch, it’s all about how the band want to make a real name for themselves and not be side-lined as the ‘Heavenly records debutants who are friends with Toy and Temples’. This is backed up by the inclusion of album finisher ‘The Central Ton’ which they have rarely played live – the opening utter of “it’s not getting any better…” over the simplistic of guitar riffs reverbs around the sparse record store, digging right at your bones. It comes down to debut single 'I Watch You' to bring the evening set to a close and sum up everything the band are about. At first it sounds like classic proto-punk, but listen closer and there’s a tinge of Britpop influence running in the song’s core. Decisive proof that the Voyeurs are operating in their own world.
With the Rough Trade in-store over, I trekked over to the Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston for another tasting of the Voyeurs, where they played another eccentric set (although, this time not being so professional).
Buy ‘Clarietta’ – you have to hear it, to understand the boldness of it, I rate it 9/10
Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs played:
Go Blow A Gale
Be Nice
Clarietta
Be Glamorous
It’s My Wish
Things We Be
The Central Ton
I Watch You
Written by - Richard Maver
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