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Mathew Scott

Eels

With Strings:

Live at Town Hall

(Vagrant Records)

They may be known to the greater world as Eels, but to all intents and purposes, this oft-changing outfit has  always revolved around the output  of its frontman and founder, singer-songwriter and everything else, Mark Oliver Everett  (aka E).

Eels' live shows have become the stuff of reknown over 14 years and six studio albums - and talk of bootleg recordings has fuelled gossip on  fan-based chat rooms.

In part to clean up this mess, Eels reconvened last year to record a live set. But, as with anything E puts his initial to, nothing was going to be quite as it first seemed.

So he's  taken his back catalogue, thrown in some stunning covers, and put the whole thing together with the accompaniment of a string quartet. Oh, and that's while his own band chimes in on everything from  garbage cans and autoharp to  pump organ and lap steel. The  results are breathtaking.

Pared down to their bare bones,  E's lyrics find fresh life in their takes  on sadness and remorse. Bus Stop Boxer sets the mood with  its scenes of suburban desolation and E's husky voice is allowed full rein.

The 22-song suite is worth buying  solely for the treatment he gives Bob Dylan's Girl from the North Country - it becomes a weeping work of art.

Even E's breakthrough Novocaine for the Soul benefits from the sparse treatment - and wipes off its MTV-friendly face for ever.

To keep all bases covered, Eels also filmed the New York concert for DVD, which contains eight more tracks and  some great extras. A great insight into the workings of a unique talent.



Eels