Colorama Kings Arms, November 11, 2011

I first heard of these through an Oldham radio station The Revolution. The station, an analogue lifeline to good music in Greater Manchester, went on to be bought out by radio ‘prankster’ Steve Penk and subsequently became musically indistinguishable from any other commercial radio station. The exodus of DJs from the station that took place re-coalesced for a new internet station Radio Republic that went live today today, 11.11.11 and a couple of the guys are here tonight playing music in between the bands. They may feel a pang of pride in helping raise Colorama’s profile in these parts.
I’ve followed Colorama’s progress since. The three piece launch into Derw Mewn and follow it with several Welsh language tunes which isn’t so out of place in Salford if some same language banter from members of the crowd is anything to go by. The Welsh landscape is never far away in their lyrics – one song is about the betrayal of a girl friend who swaps rugby union for rugby league.
Longstanding anchorman of the band, Carwyn, sometimes has a tightened singing expression similar to that of blues guitarists (or Bruce Forsythe as my friend mentioned) as his band play their absorbing folky multi-instrumental sound. Instruments are brought out and deftly applied. There are autoharps and Uilleann pipes (which I last saw being played live at a Northern Ireland music session fifteen years ago). The ‘seasonally inappropriate’ Autumnal, a highlight, has understated harmonies and melancholic acoustica. There’s a smattering from the new Colouring Book CD which I bought and am playing now as I type this. The likes of Lisa Lan and Eleri have me almost happily tasting the bar's Krombacher beer.
A final song called Good music, which may be a working title, allows for some Van Halen style riffing from David Page. It’s as if, after playing a set of finely honed melodies, an inner axe man has been unleashed. It was a suitable parting shot to send me on my way into a cold rainy Manchester night to catch the train back.

Photo by Maurice https://picasaweb.google.com/110737376453713511038/ColoramaAndJohnStammarsKingsArmsNovember112011#