tankt

I have looked high and low for a live clip of Jamie Lidell that fully captures the essence of his appeal to me. He has a charm and wit unlike any other modern musician, and a vulnerability too (perhaps that black trench coat is the armor that lets him stand alone on stage, or maybe it’s just the perfect setup to the Morrissey-esque gold lamé shirt surely hiding beneath… or is that an Elvis thing?). Either way, if you’ve ever seen him live you know what I mean.

Lidell has a child-like wonder at what he can do with his mind, his voice, and his creativity (note the yawn at the beginning of this clip, the ancient tape reel strapped to his hip, and the way he ends the song, though I wish he would have really let loose). I still remember buying his first record on Warp from John at Bent Crayon in Cleveland, Ohio. Not knowing much about him or it, I asked if it was as good as promised, so of course he sold me on it, and still to this day I don’t know if he believed it or was just grateful to get rid of it. To be perfectly honest, that release is unlistenable in the most enjoyable way. It’s completely jarring and disjointed, yet dripping with funk and soul and the promise made real with his most recent incarnation.

It’s hard to believe that this album is nearly two years old now, but it still sounds as fresh as the day I found it. I absolutely love this song, especially this rendition, in spite of (or is it because of?) the lackadaisical audience of this late night dutch tv show. I hope you do too.