Cocos Lovers - The Canteen, Thursday 3rd of October

“Is it like this in Bristol every night?” is the bemused call from Will Greenham, lead singer and guitarist of septet family folk ensemble Cocos Lovers (pronounced Co-cos).  It’s a pretty sizable and high-spirited Thursday night crowd at the bohemian renaissance of the Canteen in Stokes Croft.  And as the well-lubricated blend of students, artists and other trendy types invade the front few rows displacing the languishing diners it’s impossible to resist dancing to the bands infectious African beats.  

Touring the UK in support of latest album ‘Gold Or Dust’ the eclectic group from Deal are causing a stir with their third release which delves into a vast pool of styles and influences from aforementioned African rhythms (think a more subtle Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’), vintage coastal Kent folk and even a bit of deep south thrown in for good measure.  The band have supported Stealing Sheep and all-conquering folk Cinderellas Mumford & Sons after some honest hard graft busking/touring to perfect their sound on the nation’s high streets, farmyards, squats and communes.  Many of the tracks are lyrically melancholic and sincere with an over-arching tribal lilt held down with stunning vocal harmonies that soar and enchant; instrumentally there’s so much happening on-stage it’s a challenge to keep up.

Main single and standout ‘Emily’ is a classy but downbeat slice of trippy folk that starts with an eerie musical saw and a wandering acoustic guitar conjuring images of tree-whistling winds and high rolling hills.  Then there’s entry of the trademark punchy resonating bounce of David Hatton’s electric guitar that puts the audience into a hypnotic groove.  Quickly followed by sweet layers of virtuoso acid-jazz flute and some seamless five-part vocal harmonies; real quality bristling from every contribution on the cramped stage.  It’s the kind of multi-instrumental mash-up that has no right to work.  Skin drums, mandolins, banjos, guitars, flute, saws, trumpet employed with orchestral precision but with a loose dreamy feel that has everyone beaming.

Husband and wife Will and Natasha Greenham front the band, their voices harmonising seamlessly, the former sounding a little bit Belle and Sebastian and the latter giving a more coarse rootsy texture that quietens the chatter from tonight’s boisterous audience.  It’s tough at times to pick out every instrument with the limited sound mixing on offer and Phil Self’s mandolin is unfairly muted but it’s those Saharan desert rhythms that really dazzle; a really refreshing change from those still plundering from the Celtic alt-folk genre.  ‘Dea Matrona’ with sensual fiddle and folk-country vocals is tailor-made for a Sunday afternoon at Glastonbury’s Green Fields, one foot as ever in the World Music camp and a joyful attack on the senses.  You don’t have to be a connoisseur of folk to enjoy Cocos Lovers but if you like true honest musicianship with a danceable groove then this group is definitely for you.

Kindly published by Venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-c/21188-cocos-lovers

Best Track: Click on link below
Cocos Lovers - 'Emily'

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