My autograph collection became a lot more valuable on Tuesday. It cost me a pair of concert tickets, a CD and a tram ride, but that’s nothing compared with the signature of the UK’s poet laureate, Simon Armitage.

That CD sleeve also bears the marks of Richard Walters and Patrick J Pearson, the other members of the LYR band. Richard provides vocals and guitar. Patrick operates the keys and electronics. Simon, of course, writes the words and adds a little percussion by tapping a tom-tom drum.

The album starts with the darkly atmospheric title track. It simultaneously celebrates the wonder of the night sky, the doubt and insecurity that comes from a developing romance, and the sacrifices we make for love.

Do you still have reservations about me?
Do you still have good intentions for me?

. . .

Remember the stars overhead, like coins in a well?

“There was ice in the oven, sleet in the coffee, the pillows were frozen.
There was snow on the bread, slush in the wardrobe, frost on the bed.

It was cold”, she said.

Some of the poems seem (deliberately?) ambiguous to me, one or two I don’t understand at all. But the delivery is hypnotic and there’s a strong scent of Elbow in the music. There are shades of Mogwai and Sigur Rós, too. It’s gentle performance art for a modern audience, and Crotchety Man loves it.

Footnote

At the gig, I found myself sitting next to a lovely couple – both musicians and known to the music world as the folk duo, Winter Wilson. They are also well worth listening to.