Music

Tallest Man on Earth » 24 November

Rich Thane | Tuesday 2 November, 2010 19:55

Electric Ballroom | 184 Camden High St., NW1 8QP

Immediately after Kristian Matsson played his first ever London show at the now deceased Bardens Boudoir back in September of last year I made a prediction: “This time next year he’ll be selling out Shepherds Bush Empire” I said (probably to myself). Well, lo and behold I was (almost) right, venue aside. Though it’s doubtful The Sun will be hiring me as their new Mystic Meg anytime soon; you only had to look on the faces of the swelling Bardens crowd to realise what a special talent Matsson is. Considering at that point he hadn’t actually released a record in the UK (his debut Shallow Grave only being available via import) the level of crowd adoration was at fever pitch. Matsson—far from being tall, let alone the tallest—prowling the stage like a tomcat, his short frame hunching over as he finger-picked his way through tales of love, loss and redemption. Eye-balling the audience at every given moment, spitting the lyrics out in his Dylan-esque drawl—witnessing a Tallest Man On Earth show is in equal parts terrifying and enchanting. With a new album (and EP) now in his ever growing song cannon, you’d be mad to miss what is sure to be a much talked-about show.

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