Although Miranda Lee Richards has had a lengthy association
with the music industry to varying degrees of success, the last eighteen months
has seen something of a renewal. This has had a particular focus in the UK
including a tie up with label Invisible Hands Music and the follow up of intent
to back a pair of album releases with overseas trips from her California base. This
return to Birmingham had a somewhat low key feel to it, but evidence was
rampant to what great music she is producing at the moment. Many of the
alluring facets of her recorded material were successfully reproduced in the
live environment especially the ethereal feel, beautifully hazy vocals and a
three-pronged West Coast wrapped guitar attack.
However little time was wasted in sharing the best of last
year’s album ECHOES OF THE DREAMTIME with the excellent ‘Tokyo’s Dancing’ taking the prized opening slot and precisely positioning
the mood and tone for the set. Generally Miranda kept the background chat to a
minimum with only very brief song introductions such as the country sound to ‘It Was Given’ and the trip-inducing qualities
of ‘Colours So Fine’.
It didn’t take long into the set to move into the newer
material with ‘On the Outside of Heaven’ featuring
early on. ‘Lucid I Would Dream’, ‘Autumn Sun’ and title track ‘Existential Beast’ effortlessly
transferred the divinity of the record to a quirky venue in the inner city
suburb of Balsall Heath, trailing just two tracks, which proved to be highlight
of the set. ‘Oh Raven’ was announced
as a medieval folk piece and rose like a beacon on the evening. Album opener ‘Ashes and Seeds’ was nearly missed as cut
off time approached but it was just squeezed in to the extent of flourishing
brightly whilst projecting Miranda as a serious writer of an enticing folk
song.
Sadly time constraints probably lent heavily on not playing
the eleven minute epic ‘Another World’
that not only closes the new record, but also prompts a transfixed thought
mode. While not being sure to the extent that this track generally features
live, it presents a brave challenge that in my opinion will come off. Maybe
there is also room in a different setting for further insight into the intriguing
themes, inspirations and line of thought that apply to her music. This
certainly was a gig where the message was predominately in the music, which
fair enough is the fundamental of the art. Miranda finished her set by stating
that she will be back later in the summer with a full band in tow. This will
inevitably add a further dimension to the sound, but on a pre-gig assumption
that this event would be on a more acoustic footing, the bar was raised to a
pretty high level for subsequent shows to better.
In line with the promoter’s motivation to provide a platform
for local independent artists, two solo performers were granted half hour
support slots to support Miranda. Each focussed on a different strand of music,
with Stourbridge-based Ryan Sparrow more pro-active in promoting his innovative
acoustic style than the fluctuating electric vibes of a guitarist billed under
the name My Autumn Empire who followed.
Engaging with the music of Miranda Lee Richards over the
last eighteen months has been an adorable delight and this first time seeing
her live went a lengthy way to exceeding expectation. If you’re seeking an artist
capable of making seductive and encapsulating music wrapped in a warm blanket
of indie folk and West Coast jangly rock, then look no further. While we wait for
a UK return, there is ample space for EXISTENTIAL BEAST to prosper and ECHOES
IN THE DREAMTIME to have reinvigorated second phase.
www.mirandaleerichards.com