DEVOTCHKA (London Scala, 09/04/08)

Sousaphones are awesome. Woefully under-represented in the contemporary music scene, they’re essentially big-ass tubas that wrap around the player like a brass boa constrictor. No less awesome are DeVotchKa, the four-piece Mariachi folk troubadours who despite being named after a Clockwork Orange reference are as far from nightmarish as you could possibly conceive. One of the slickest, tightest musical outfits I’ve borne witness to, the dapper Americans rattle through their back catalogue with a rare zest and enthusiasm. There’s nothing particular edgy or adventurous about their songwriting; indeed, much of their oeuvre is the sort of earnest but catchy balladry that’d be at home in any decade but whilst they don’t try to push the envelope, they really put their all into bringing their marvellous melodies to life. If at times one might wish for a couple of extra members to fill out the sound a bit, you can’t fault them for what musicianship is displayed; as well as the aforementioned sousaphone, accordions, brass, cellos and a theremin are all thrown into the mix, adding variety to songs that in lesser hands may have come across as a touch stale. A fantastic, celebratory encore complete with accordion jamming and impromptu singalongs is the icing on the cake; like the similarly brilliant National and Okkervil River, DeVotchKa prove that no amount of special effects or overwrought media hype can compensate for good, old-fashioned talent.

(Photo: Jennaphoenix (Flickr))