If you're somewhat apathetic about pop and Lady Gaga's latest red-cape big-wig antics there may be a folk alternative for you. Not only can folk be used to give off airs of intellectuality, but with a reputation as "an antidote to the current crop of acoustic songstresses" (thank goodness) Beth Jeans Houghton is a brilliant breath of well-sung light and enthusiastic new music. If that's not enough, she also wears a fantastically big wig and a double-colour leotard that bowls you over.
NME, whilst not an entirely reliable source of musical goodness, hails her as "a Joni Mitchell for the anti-folk generation". For once they are not solely jumping on the latest young-and-noisy bandwagon! Devendra Banhart added his two cents at last year's Green Man festival saying she’s a “very lovely, a musical magician," - and she is.
If you happen to catch her touring at the moment with her band 'The Hooves of Destiny' (and do try) as I did, you'll be swept up. She's wonderful in the enticing way folk on occasion can be; and as my gig-going friend Jonathan puts it: "It isn't the wistful, wide-eyed universe of a Bat For Lashes, but rather an arch, colourful terrain which seems to owe more to Cindy Sherman or Tony Hancock than it does Kate Bush."
She's not a Florence and the Machine, though they both wear figure hugging joyfully colourful outfits, and her band The Hooves of Destiny have a suitcase that works as a base-drum. The band's description is utterly mad and this may be the only thing that really puts you off as it sounds a bit like curious-for-the-sake-of-curious blurb:
"During a dispute about the severe lack of chewing tobacco Beth left the yurt and went for a late night trot around the serene lake. not serene for long though.... She soon heard a splishing and a splashing in the darkest corner of the lake. She carefully began bare-footing along the waters edge to take a closer look at the commotion.
As the sun rose golden over the nearest mountains, the waters began to swell and curdle, and three delightful heads appeared. Seeing three boys rise from the lake, Beth stared in disbelief as they emerged to show their glorious furry hind-quarters and scintillating hooves. 'Jesus on a bike' she cried as the half men, half goats trotted gleefully towards her."
A short chinese dinner with her confirms that she's lovely but utterly mad. Find her on MySpace.
Below is a video of Beth and The Hooves of Destiny at Brighton's Komedia where they visited last week. (You can thank my lack of tripod for the slight shakes.)
Later she popped into the crowd and took some photos of the main band, Stornoway, who were a more serious band and a bit of a slump, but regardless it was a good night.
Image via Beth Jeans Houghton's MySpace