The Rakes & Pure Reason Revolution, The Barfly

Tonight is the playlouder singles night, a monthly adventure into new bands at the Barfly. Our new heroes, The Rakes are first on early, so whilst most of London is having a quick drink after work in the sun, we’re in the sub tropical Barfly – last time the inside of the venue saw sunlight – 1908.


The Rakes rattle through a cracking set throwing in 22 Grand Job and its B-Side, Something Clicked And I Fell Off The Edge, somewhere mid set. As last time we saw them they look really nervous, we suspect that this band lives on their nerves – guitarist Matthew looks tense throughout the set and its this tenseness that fuels the songs – this and the thundering drums.

They finish the set with possible next single Can’t Get Laid Until I Get Paid.

The second band on are Pure Reason Revolution, who are signed to Alan McGee’s Poptones label. The first thing you notice about PRR is the hair – they have lots of it and its asymmetric. If the charts were based on hair cuts then PRR would be right up there with fellow Reading noise merchants The Cooper Temple Clause.


The songs are long. Very long (I think they manage to get 5 into the 45 minute set) but entertaining with lots of Beech Boys style harmonies – 4 voices in total – and multi instrumentalists. The eclectic style of the music, with shifting time signatures and keyboard squelches is reminiscent of The Beta Band or The Orb. Actually for an old Floyd fan like me these guys are quite exciting and definitely work investigating further.

- posted by Nigella @ 6:41 PM