Life Without Buildings - Live At The Annandale Hotel (2007, Absolutely Kosher Records)

In the middle of the year 2001, the weather report inside my mind was correctly predicting extended periods of bleak, cold weather, with a 75% chance of rain. Various storm systems had come and gone, and I was feeling water-logged and tired, though I continued to hold out hope that I would once more be touched by the sun's warm rays.
It was during this time - a time spent looking for a place to hang my hat - that I discovered a strange gem of an album called Any Other City, by an obscure Scottish band named Life Without Buildings. In fact, I bought the album without hearing any of the music, solely based on the allure of band's name. What type of music would a band named Life Without Buildings make?
Much to my pleasure they made very good music. A blend of angular guitars, post-punk danceability and the beautiful, off-the-wall vocals of lead-singer, Sue Tompkins, who sings-shouts-speaks lyrics that seem to be being beamed in from a distant satellite.
I loved the album; some of my friend hated it, which made me love it all the more. Songs such as The Leanover and New Town filled my head with a beautiful rock'n'roll sound; Tompkins vocals were like a riddle, begging to be solved.
When Life Without Buildings played in Melbourne in December 2001, I was on a tight budget, and had already committed to Meredith Music Festival; so I passed on the opportunity to see them play live. If I had have known then that the band would break-up within the year, I would have certainly altered my decision.
Live At The Annandale Hotel was recorded in Sydney on that same tour and features live versions of most of the songs from Any Other City (the band's only studio album), plus tracks from the Is Is & The IRS EP. The sound of the recording is excellent and the band are at the height of their power. Tompkins is splendidly manic - her between-song banter sweetly naive - and the band are raw, punchy and precise. Standout tracks include 14 Days, Sorrow and the amazing, set-closing New Town.
Life Without Buildings are a criminally over-looked band from the early days of the new millenium; and this album is as good a document of their live presence as one could ask for - real memories of live shows aside. Some of you will love them, and some of you will hate them, which will cause those of you who love them, to love them all the more.

Check Out: www.myspace.com/lifewithoutbuildingsuk

Sounds A Bit Like: Karen O before Karen O; dancing to the voices in your head; the weird kids and the cool kids making music together.