The The Celebrate ‘Ensoulment’ Album with a Night to Remember in Barnsley [Show Review]

It’s not very often you get a chance to see a band like The The in a former Yorkshire Working Men’s Club on a Saturday night, which made this gig so special. The Birdwell Club, situated in the Birdwell suburb of Barnsley, previously played host to The Arctic Monkeys in 2005 (voted 9th best gig of the year by The Observer) but is usually home to tribute bands. In the men’s toilets are framed pictures of coal mines and miners, and attached to the venue is a counter selling chips and burgers. This is a place steeped in local history.

The tour will be taking in dates at London’s Alexandra Palace and the Manchester Apollo, so seeing them at this 450-capacity venue feels like a privilege. The fact that their new album, Ensoulment, is such a scorching return to classic form, adds to the joy of the evening. The album is being played in its entirety before a ‘Greatest Hits’ set. The excitement in the room is unavoidably noticeable.

Matt Johnson takes the stage alongside Bassist James Eller. Much like Mark E Smith and The Fall (If it’s me and your Granny on Bongos, it’s The Fall), The The is essentially Johnson and a revolving door of musicians. Eller, however, is one of the more frequent and long-standing band members.

Johnson’s mic is flanked by two steampunk-style radio mics, allowing him to almost provide his own backing vocals in a distinctively different style. The The still feel unique.

Album opener “Cognitive Dissident” is an instant classic and could have been ripped from their 1980s back catalogue quite easily. Lyrics are still political and relevant and Johnson’s delivery still verging on the slightly sneering and sinister. This is apparent on tracks like “Zen and the Art of Dating” and the curiously whispered “Linoeum Smooth to the Stockinged Foot.”

The album does not sound like a band that has been operating since the late ’70s, and the freshness of the songwriting comes across on every track. There are numerous dips into quiet meditation, such as “I Want To Wake Up With You,” but there are enough upbeat reminders of Johnson’s younger adventures to keep fans happy.

The first set is marred slightly by a continuing problem with feedback, but to be fair, the quality of the songs did allow me to zone out of the sound issues most of the time.

A short break allows the issues to be addressed and round two opens with the welcome tribal drumming of “Infected” from Earl Harvin. Harvin hails from the 2000 line-up of the band and his skills are breathtaking. Infected still sounds as powerful as ever and takes me right back to dancing to it at The State Ballroom in Liverpool in the ’80s.

Classic song follows classic song. “Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)” is more relevant than ever, as is “Heartland” with its “This is the 51st State of the USA” refrain. “Slow Emotion Replay” lacks the Johnny Marr harmonica and sounds incredibly different but equally charming without. I dreamed of a Johnny Marr appearance tonight, or at least an outing of “The Beat(en) Generation,” but neither was to be. But with a selection of songs as strong as this, it’s difficult to complain.

Remaining highlights include “This is the Day” (fantastic), “Dogs of Lust,” “Sweet Bird of Truth,” and the blissfully Lloyd Cole-esque “Uncertain Smile.” Final song, “Giant,” with its repeated “How could anyone know me when I don’t even know myself,” leaves the crowd more than satisfied.

Great gig, amazing venue and fine cheesy chips on the way home, too.

Ensoulment is out now on Cineola Records, and you can pick up your copy here.