THE GREEN RAY – THE KLINKER CLUB ISLINGTON
 FRIDAY 4th MARCH 2005.

Arrive at The Klinker Club late-ish on this freezing night only to find the band sitting at tables not sure if the gig’s going ahead or not due to the absence of the promoter. This is eventually remedied and they take to the stage [or floor] at around 10 o’clock.

ALICE
Starting with Simon and Ken Whaleys drums and bass the band ease themselves into this off kilter slow blues/waltz instrumental, based on an Alice Coltrane riff. Richard Treece soon joins the piece playing some intricate, sensual, crying runs followed by Simon Haspeck with growling, throaty guitar surges and waves of feedback. The song builds to a climax and ends after about six minutes with a flourish of eastern scales. A great way to roll out the welcome mat for this evenings performance.

I SEE YOU

This is a cover of The Byrds song from the 5th Dimension album, sung by Ken, who manages a better vocal performance on this difficult tune than at The Plough on Tuesday. A strong rhythm is set up by the two Simons and Ken with some psychedelic Treece guitar work over the top. Enquiries by Ken at the end as to if it’s too loud is met with the maxim ‘If it’s too loud you’re too old’

SWEDISH DETECTIVE MOVIE
A new song from Ken formed by his impressions of books by Henning Mankell. The lyrics and slightly menacing, desolate feel of the song suit this freezing,snowing day and evening like a brilliant film soundtrack. It’s a longish piece that builds up speed and eases up a number of times with an instrumental part towards the end that could easily be mistaken for Man circa the Welsh Connection album.Unfortunately the song ends abruptly, in some confusion, although as Ken says ‘But then that’s improvised music for you’

NOW
Simon Haspeck wrote this one which starts with an Allman Brothers/C’mon feel to it, featuring lovely, understated guitar from Richard Treece, which morphs into a jazzy section and then the structured,sad chords of the song. It doesn’t seem to have a chorus but instead blocky, forceful verses. One to watch or rather listen out for.

RUNNING DOWN
This starts on Kens strong bass riff followed by the rest of the band. It’s a driving, powerful version of the Help Yourself song with vocals by Ken. It certainly gets my head shaking in a dangerous, unsightly and old fashioned manner. Treece plays magnificent wah wah guitar, much under used by bands these days while Simon H later plays a loud, metallic, fuzz solo, perhaps his best of the evening. The song ends with more wah wah guitar from Richard and a final gentle, humorous hit of the cymbal by Simon Whaley.

SWAINS GREEN
With an ‘ere we go from Ken its into Swains Green. A slower, swaggering version of the song from the Fragile World CD. If ever the band had the unlikely thought of putting out a single then this would have to be it. Full of optimism with a great tune and lively playing to boot.

SILVER RING
Another newish song with the feel of Quicksilver Messenger Service playing Mona in an African township. Initially started on the wrong rhythm it gets into a real groove at the second attempt. Interesting lyrics presumably by Ken with again a threatening tone to them. I think this is another very strong song and one that deserves that you make a fool of yourself on the dance floor. Played far too fast comments Ken at the end.

BREATH
Perhaps the most straightforward song by Green Ray standards with a rock/boogie feel to it. Sung by Simon Haspeck with some nice blues style guitar from Richard.  

OBSERVATORY CREST
The Captain Beefheart song from his ‘74 Bluejeans and Moonbeams album, again sung by Mr. Haspeck. They’ve played this on and off for a while. Richard does lots of nice harmonics and sustain on his guitar and it builds to a strong crescendo with especially powerful drumming and bass and guitar.

ALLEY CAT
From Help Yourself’s recently released CD 5 and written by Ken Whaley this was one of the favourites from the Camden Enterprise gigs of summer 2003. Taking in a funky little guitar workout at the beginning,  followed by the laid back Lou Reed, Coney Island feel of the middle and end sections with their lyrics of vulnerability, this is a lovely song.

FRAGILE WORLD

By this time in the evening I was certainly fighting a losing battle with the cold of the venue (someone must have turned the heating off). However The Green Rays last song of the evening managed to pull me back from the brink of hypothermia. The title track of their recent CD, written and sung by Simon Haspeck. With its strong chanted chorus embedding itself in your brain, Richard’s outrageous wah guitar and the Whaley brothers driving rhythm section it makes for a rousing end to an enjoyable evenings music.

They’re a band growing, changing and improving all the time - go on, catch a few rays while you can.

REVIEW BY :PETE MIDDLETON