Test Card Girl: Retro Bar, Manchester – live review

Test Card Girl | Caitlin LM | Granfalloon
Retro, Manchester
25th September 2022

Test Card Girl, aka Catherine Burgis launches her Fly EP with a curated evening at Manchester’s Retro Bar.

I must say from the outset, although I’ve only visited the venue a couple of times over recent years, one thing I love about Retro is the sound. Sound engineer Zac is on point tonight and the acoustics are perfect for all three local acts, who, whilst being completely different compliment each other perfectly.

First up is Richard Lomax, aka Granfalloon. Part singer songwriter, part storyteller. He holds the audience with his often comical introductions and explanations of his songs, many from his new album, Calendar. My favourite of the evening is Bee On A String, written about a friend who, with the knowledge that bees can’t fly backwards and can be put to sleep by lowering their body temperature, managed to tie a fine piece of string to an insect’s back leg and take it for a walk (or should that be fly?) around the park.

Granfalloon is followed by Caitlin LM, the singer backed by drums and violin. Her music is atmospheric, ambient and haunting at times, reminding me of Julee Cruse, but with electronic beats which which make me think of Lou Rhodes and Lamb. Caitlin, explaining she lost her parents at an early age, uses her music to explore her emotions, anxieties and mental health. It’s powerful and moving set which deserves to be heard.

Test Card Girl takes to the stage, announcing herself, ‘please welcome Test Card Girl to the stage’ which is met by laughter from the audience and the artist herself. It sets the tone nicely of what to expect from the musician and award-winning comedian. The thing I really like about Caffs is she’s so unassuming and charming. Surrounded by friends and family, there is a lot of love and support in the room.

As she struggles to make small talk and get the right settings on her keyboard/synth at the same time, she turns to talking us though the settings themselves to humorous effect. She’s performing solo for the first three tracks; Summer Sun, If You’re Feeling Down and Lets Go Home, the latter pair being written for her younger sister and her mum respectively. With her harmonised vocals, her songs often have an ethereal, otherworldly quality, verging on lullabies, at times reminding the listener of Elizabeth Fraser.

Caffs is then joined by Andy Hargreaves (I Am Kloot) on drums and Nathan Sudders (The Whip, Miles Kane, Guy Garvey, Nadine Shah etc) on bass. Before beginning with her guests, we’re given the background to the next track, Like A Train; the story of basically being dumped on an escalator some 20 years earlier. She’s clearly moved on since. Next we have The Beyond, a highlight from the EP which comes to life with the live bass and drums. Early single Don’t Go gets an outing. It’s one of those songs that will have you wondering where you’ve heard it before, even if you’ve not. It’s got a playful feel, similar to a schoolyard skipping rhyme.

Fade Out, We’ll Always Be There, Solitary Beat, all from the EP, follow, before the
introduction of Fly, which is about a Fly; an early release from the set with its motorik beat and a hypnotic Autobahn feel to it. Nathan gets the crowd clapping along at the appropriate moments. All too soon the set comes to a close with another previous release, Hold Me Down, Caffs joking that this stemmed from the alcoholic phase of lockdown.

Tonight at Retro has been a great night, all credit to Caffs for putting together a great line with such strong supports in Granfalloon and Caitlin LM. It certainly highlights the mantra what you should always do your best to watch the support bands and you never know what surprises may be in store.

Granfalloon is on Facebook and Twitter
Caitlin LM is on Facebook and Instagram
Test Card Girl is on Facebook and Twitter

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All photos by Debbie Ellis – Instagram / Twitter

All words by Iain Key. See his Author Profile here author’s archive or on Twitter as @iainkey.

Source: louderthanwar.com