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The Art School Pixie Comes Home

Thanks to Eric Valette for the following gig review - from an unidentified edition of Sounds published in 1988.

If anyone has this article with Ian T Tilton's photo intact - please contact myself or CMoS.

LUXURIA - Manchester International

Stephen Kingston - Sounds 1988

Howard Devoto bounds onstage formally dressed for his comeback from the has-been closet. It's a modest return.

"It's been a long time since I've played Manchester so I'd better introduce myself-" This receives a rapturous reception. "No - don't do that - we might be rubbish." But the Howie and Noko show whirls into life - rendering any doubt unfounded.

With his pixie ears flapping to the beat - arms flailing - fingers snapping and the eyes in his angst ridden face bulging - Devoto gives you everything. He's a showman and his enthusiasm is infectious - captivating a disappointingly sparse audience. Meanwhile - the three gyrating guitars - pompous semi-synthetic percussion and totally synthed orchestral manoeuvres are flicking through many styles and moods.

Luxuria can speed it up or slow it down - but Howard's voice just keeps on drawling in that art school accent - slightly off-key and rich in expression. These are meaningful songs - in the Bolshoi/Bowie/Kate Bush mode. Poetic lyrics and ambitious ambience which hits a high with the old Mag cover - 'A Song From Under The Floorboards' - and a zenith with the fitting finale 'Luxuria' and it's warped fairytale guitar noises.

In between - 'Flesh' pounds the beat and even some brave Proustian pretentiousness as Devoto - glasses on and book - crowd and band in hand - shares some of his glorious self-indulgence.

And then there's Noko - with his purple frills and Byron hair - looking like he should be playing with a butterfly net rather than a guitar and fiddle.

Tonight was Howard's homecoming - this balding - bespectacled - diminutive - ageing genius - sometimes lost in a cloud of expressionism but - thankfully no longer lost in musical history. Welcome back!