In the 1970s Leo Sayer sung about a One-Man Band, conjuring up images of a ramshackle performer simultaneously playing multiple instruments. Will Doyle, aka East India Youth, is the one-man band of the current age, but gone is the adjective ramshackle, replaced with sublime.
Will's performance creates an unsurpassable soundscape through his mastery of keyboard, computer, guitar and endless looping, all complemented with his striking vocal, but the electronic wizadry is not a substitute for lazy application; on the contrary Will Doyle actively produces a high-energy show tonight, showcasing all that is good on his recently released Total Strife Forever album.
The set nicely dovetails the tunes from the album with poignant lyrics like Dripping Down, Looking For Someone and Heaven How Long with mind-boggling near-orchestral extensions. The more I listen to the album it is these very instrumental tracks that reveal greater depths and show why this album has received such high acclaim.
As a one-man performer Will Doyle carries the show superbly. The fact is he does not need to pile all this pressure on himself. He could take the easier route by delivering these songs through fronting a band (he has a track record of this in his previous Doyle & The Fourfathers persona). Instead East India Youth creates a focal point for these brilliantly crafted tunes, delivered with tempo and energy of the highest grade.
Si & Sally
