THE STUNNING: “Tightrope” (Solid)

HEY, HEY, it’s The Stunning. And with a new album, no less. Or rather, a new live album. Hmm . . . cynical seasonal marketing ploy or what? After all, The Stunning haven’t recorded enough material or been around long enough to justify either a “Greatest Hits” or a “Best Of” package. But this is peak season for record sales (or record record sales, if you like) and who’d want to miss out on all that easy dosh, eh? So a live album it is then and, erm, Merry Christmas babes.

So is Tightrope yet another fan-fleecing case of money for old rope? Fortunately, it’s not. For a start, it’s cheaper than you’d expect in today’s harsh economic climate (£6.99 for the cassette, £10 for the CD). And secondly, off a nine-song track list, at least four numbers were previously unavailable, so you’re certainly getting value for money.

The album was recorded over two nights in Galway’s Taibhdhearc Theatre during last summer’s Arts Festival and the first thing that struck me was just how restrained the crowds must have been. I mean, they cheer loudly and appreciatively at the beginning and end of each number but appear to have remained politely mute while the songs were actually being played.

At no point does any ambitious soul have a stab at immortality by shouting “Wankerz!” loudly during the mellow poignant bits (dammit – I knew I should have gone!). So it’s quite easy to forget that you’re listening to a live album. It almost sounds like a contradiction in terms but The Stunning have always been more polished (and somehow credible) live than any of their studio efforts would have had you believe. So although it’s a live album, it’s the clarity and professionalism of the band that creates the atmosphere and not the punctual brayings of the crowd.

Side one opens fairly undramatically with a standard rendition of ‘The Hurt Inside’ but things improve rapidly with the melancholic ‘Town For Sale’ and the moodily witty ‘Half Past Two’ (I never got that “rubber balloons” reference before). Sensibly enough, The Stunning have chosen not to rock the subtlety out of their songs this time round but instead, to seduce with carefully arranged, mellower versions and remind you that behind the brightly coloured leathers and the shades, they’re a bunch of pretty talented musicians.

For evidence of this, witness ‘Mr. Ginger’, ‘Frank The Tramp’ or the old live favourite ‘Tightrope Walker’ (which would make a great single). I’m not sure about the well meaning but naive ‘Men Without Souls’ though, where Steve Wall croons lines like “I’m sick to the teeth, yeah I’m sick to the teeth/Some men are so ill they can butcher and kill/for what they believe”, and expects to get away with it. A bit more venom wouldn’t have gone amiss. The CD version boasts a bonus track with the band providing the backing music to Michael D. Higgins’ reading of his poem “The Mountain” (they must have heard about Allen Ginsberg and Sonic Youth!).

At this stage, most people already have an opinion on The Stunning and if you’re already a fan then you don’t need to be urged to buy this. If not, then this could be the album that will change your mind.

(OK, that’s it, I’m finished. You can clap now).

• Olaf Tyaransen