Son Lux: Live at the Workman's Club

Ryan Lott has been a busy man over the past 12 months. In 2013, he released his third album Lanterns, worked on a number of film soundtracks and applied the finishing touches to the forthcoming Sisyphus album, his collaboration with Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti. He could be forgiven for putting his feet up for a few weeks and relaxing, but there’s no rest for the weary and instead he’s just embarked on his first major international tour, which has brought him here to The Workman’s Club on this rainy Friday night.

Anyone familiar with his work as Son Lux will know that there’s a fair degree of studio wizardry on the records. Lott admits that the studio is his primary instrument and has described bringing the songs to the stage as being “inherently problematic”, though you’d hardly think it judging from tonight’s performance. He’s assembled a tight trio to interpret the tunes live, and the songs are recast in a more muscular mould than on the albums.

Lanterns’ highlight ‘Easy’ gets the crowd’s heads collectively nodding early on, with its spacey rhythms and ‘90s boom-bap drums. There are tracks from all three of his studio outings on display tonight and plenty of variety. A stripped down version of At War With Walls And Mazes track ‘Stay’ brings the crowd to a hush as Lott sings pleadingly, over delicate keys.

The songs mostly translate well live, although some of the earlier experimental material meanders too close to shapeless jamming exercises for comfort. Between songs, Lott has an endearing manner and appears to be thoroughly enjoying himself. A chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ rings out throughout the room, which brings a smile to his face.

It’s the penultimate track, the single ‘Lost It To Trying’, that gets the biggest reaction. The band tease the audience with its buzzing synths and vocal samples before breaking into a full throttle version. Lott recently told us that he’s looking forward to bringing his show to some of the festivals this summer. On this evidence, he’s sure to go down a storm.