Man / Woman / Chainsaw celebrate debut album Cannonball at Rough Trade

12 hours ago

A few days after its release date Man / Woman / Chainsaw are in Nottingham, for an intimate show followed by a signing for their debut album Cannonball. In the midst of the umpteenth heat wave this summer, with half an hour still to wait, the small room in Rough Trade is practically dripping in sweat. We persevere, and finally the lights go down for Man /Woman / Chainsaw to take to the stage.

Opening track Only Girl kicks off with a folky violin before exploding into a catchy pop number, while Canyons starts as a slow ballad, before crescendoing into a powerful cacophony of sound. Grungy groove rock single Goddamn, Lizard Man! practically sounds like a completely different band. One of Man / Woman / Chainsaw’s unique selling points is the use of multiple vocalists. Bassist Vera Leppänen, guitarist Billy Ward and keyboardist Emmie-Mae Avery take turns providing the main vocals, while violinist Clio Starwood and guitarist Billy Doyle provide backing. Drummer Lola Cherry completes the line up, who barely have room to move on the tiny stage.

Lighter is beautiful and stripped back, while Get Up and Dance is moody and intense. Snakebite is a stand out, the violin intro and layered vocal hook ‘my picture in your wallet, do you still carry it?’ is as gorgeous as it is fleeting, being the shortest song on the album. Cannonball as an album ebbs and flows constantly, a roller-coaster of sound, intensity and experimentation. Where one song is energetic and upbeat, the next will be sombre and slow. All at once feeling fresh and new, while also giving nostalgic vibes and old school influences. Ward’s vocals lend themselves to the grittier side of Cannonball, Flick of the Wrist and The Thing would be completely different songs if another member took control.

Man / Woman / Chainsaw almost exclusively stick to the tracklist order, giving everyone in the room the full experience, with one exception. Single Nosedive is plucked from the middle of the album and is instead played last. One of the most danceable songs on the album, made even more so as Leppänen ditches the bass for a tambourine, bouncing through the whole 6ish minutes of the electro anthem.