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Gerry Mitchell and Little Sparta
Scalpel Slice
Fire Records
Article
written by Adam W
Feb 1, 2006.
This mini-album is an intriguing experiment between Gerry Mitchell – bitterly angry Scottish poet – and Little Sparta – multinational ensemble of experienced musicians of reputable source. Over the 7 tracks the vitriolic urban poetry of the former merges with the folk stylings of the latter, which ultimately creates a quite admirable little effort.
Firstly, Little Sparta prove themselves tidy orchestrators with a knack for a rather lovely tune. This is ably demonstrated on the two instrumental tracks here, one a gorgeous and lilting Celtic lullaby; the other a brooding piece with sombre guitar picking and mournful violin. The tracks with Mr. Mitchell, however, are more menacing as they attempt to score his deeply bitter attacks on urban Scottish life. He despatches rants about “Burnt out cars, burnt out people” and that “this big massive machine seems broken” in typically Glaswegian style which, even if the listener finds overly simplistic and clichéd, they have no choice but to sit up and listen. ‘Skyscraper Housebound’ is the musical and poetic highlight though, akin to Aidan from Arab Strap stumbling into Adem’s shed mid-recording to snatch the mic from his puny hands to unleash a savage attack on Thatcher's destruction of the Scottish Working Class.
It’s not particularly easy to see much a demand for this project since Mitchell’s poetry, whilst intriguing, isn’t particularly profound and Little Sparta’s music, whilst pleasant, isn’t exactly groundbreaking. However, it does provide a satisfying listen to hear two things so seemingly ill at ease in each other’s company come together with a smattering of merit.
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