As Easter treats go Rough Trade managed to beat them all – no, not a free Kinder Egg with every purchase – but a free lunchtime gig by the genius that is Micah Paul Hinson.
His 2004 debut was easily my album of that year, and back in October 04 he narrowly missed out on claiming gig of the year too (beaten by two breathtaking Kraftwerk shows). Second on the bill but backed by most of the headlining “Earlies”, Micah put on a performance of such intensity and passion that the Scala audience was left in a kind of hushed awe by the close. Duet “I Still Remember” in particular had the hairs on the back of my neck tingling. It really was THAT good. (review)

Bizarrely Rough Trade was barely half full, which has only two explanations, either the world has gone mad, or I suppose possibly most people have other pressing obligations on an Easter Sunday.
The few dozen that turned up were treated to a preview of tracks from his eagerly awaited new album (Sept 06), and very good they sounded too, but his version of Tim (oops got my Buckleys mixed up) Jeff Buckley’s “Yard Of Blonde Girls” was the highlight. Micah pointing out afterwards that since recording it for the Tim & Jeff Buckley tribute album “Dream Brother”, he’d discovered it wasn’t even penned by Buckley in the first place.

Before the gig Micah talked about “The Late Cord” his side project with The Earlies John Mark Lapham. Their debut mini album “Lights From The Wheelhouse” is scheduled for release on April 24th, and according to Micah their aim was to make a record that didn’t sound like either Hinson solo or The Earlies. With that in mind he only played piano on some tracks, deliberately limiting the number that he sings on. The promotional bumf says:

“Though not religious – at least, not in any conventional sense — Lights from the Wheelhouse, is certainly prayerful, a deep, contemplative blend of the acoustic and electronic, the traditional and experimental, the lyrical and abstract”

Luckily you can judge for yourself as 4AD are sharing the brilliantly morbidly titled “My most meaningful relationships are with dead people”. Download MP3 here.

Music blog “The Daily Growl” is hosting another MP3, and a more detailed review: Visit them here

Micah P. Hinson info:
Website: Micah P Hinson / Myspace / “The Late Cord”
MP3’s:
Yourself Asleep Again
Caught In-Between (demo)
Possibilities (demo)
The Leading Guy
As You Can See

Buy the stunning debut album: Micah P. Hinson & The Gospel of Progress / Pre-order The Late Cord LP

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