Nightingales - Mind over Matter (2015)

The Nightingales were formed by former Prefects (Clash’s ‘White Riot Tour’, Peel favourites, etc) vocalist Robert Lloyd and recorded a bunch of albums and 45s in the 1980s – as well as playing shows throughout Europe as headliners and supporting acts as diverse as Bo Diddley and Nico – but stopped working when Lloyd decided to combine a ‘solo career’ with money earning manual labour.

Around a decade ago Lloyd chose to revive the ‘Gales but not as a nostalgia act performing old material for the entertainment of the affluent and ageing ex punk/indie brigade but as an uncompromising, confrontational contemporary group. His idea of what the band should be doing has taken time to come to fruition largely due to the coming and going of various mercenary, starry eyed, wastrel &/or part time musicians but during the recording of the ‘Insult To Injury’ album in 2008 Lloyd met Schmid who joined the band and at last the group “got good” (R.Lloyd).

The Nightingales then “got great” when former Violet Violet drummer Fliss Kitson joined the group a year or so later prior to recording the Cooking Vinyl album ‘No Love Lost’ in 2012. The Violets had been a regular support to the ‘Gales over the years and Lloyd had always been an admirer of Kitson’s playing so when that band split up and she agreed to become a Nightingale he was “made up” and finally the group was “proper”.

This line up (completed by original Prefect Alan Apperley on guitar) became a top notch live unit and following the sold out, self released ‘For Fuck’s Sake’ LP in April ’14, the streamlined four piece Nightingales embarked on their most successful UK tour to date before writing the new album and recording in September at the end of a short tour of Germany and Austria.

‘Mind Over Matter’ is a short, sharp blast of melody, rhythm, irritation and humour. The group might play around but does not fuck about. They may indulge themselves but do not waste your time. They could be mad but are most certainly diligent.