KATHRYN JOSEPH + LOMOND CAMPBELL – GREEN DOOR STORE, BRIGHTON 20.10.25
We last caught up with Inverness born-Glasgow based Scottish singer, songwriter and pianist Kathryn Joseph when she was performing live at Fabrica in Duke Street, Brighton from 10:15pm to 10:45pm on 13th May 2022 as part of The Great Escape new music festival. Back then we stated:
“Next up was the option to go for a more intimate and mesmerising performance at Fabrica which is located in Duke Street and is a contemporary art gallery with an educational mission. Glasgow based Kathryn Joseph was in attendance, whose highly individual expression was first heard on 2015’s ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ which addressed failed relationships and the death of her infant son. This gave her the Scottish Album of the Year award.
Her songs are very personal with the added drama of her synth sounds telling stories of loss and relationships! For the duration of the set the audience sat down on the floor to listen to her voice echoing in the beams of the church and were truly captivated, a different kind of experience to some of the other offerings during the day!”
We thought it was about time we finally catch a full headline set as opposed to a mere half hour taster set and thus we find ourselves camped at the ever-popular Green Door Store this evening, and this time around we certainly have no intentions on sitting on the cobbled floor of the former stable, for the duration of her 73 minute set from 9:06pm until 10:19pm.
This is my first encounter with Kathryn and I’m intrigued to see what this evening’s event has in store for us. There’s the possibility of her being able to delve into her quartet of albums, ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ (2015), ‘From When I Wake The Want Is’ (2018), ‘For You Who Are The Wronged’ (2022), and ‘We Were Made Prey.’, as well as her ‘For You Who Are The Wronged (Lomond Campbell Remixes)’ 5-track EP which sounds vastly different. Thankfully for reviewing purposes, it’s kept really simple for me as Kathyn opts to play her current long-player ‘We Were Made Prey.’ – which I believe they recorded together in something like an old schoolhouse in Fort William – in track order, followed by a sole cut from her previous album, followed by all 5 of the recent remixes!
Kathryn takes to the stage and is joined by Lomond Campbell who recorded the remix EP. Earlier on he performed a solo 28 minute set as support artist, more of that shortly. Lomond is Kathryn Joseph’s best friend and he’s the driver on the tour. So with a solo keyboard with accompanying Korg foot pedal which is played by Kathryn, and Lomond’s ASM Hydrasynth, along with a number of smaller electronic units and presets, their van can’t be that full-up as they whizz around the land entertaining folk.
The duo are both clad in black trousers and black plain t-shirts without any logos on them, clearly there’s a unity here, and throughout the performance you can feel the chemistry between the two. I’am however slightly thrown by Kathryn’s opening statement to the packed crowd, which is “Here are a lot of disgusting songs about f*cking!” Clearly I hadn’t studied her lyrics to her material then, but an air of inquisitiveness filled me as no doubt the other members of the crowd as well.
They begin with ‘Wolf’, which like all of the 11 tracks on the record, is stylized in capitals along with a full stop at the end. Kathryn’s vocal delivery is slow and considered and reminds me of Kate Bush. Throughout the performance she plays her keyboard with both hands whilst offloading her lyrics, and in between lines she peers in our direction, almost as if “We Were Made Prey” and with a tune titled ‘Wolf’ maybe it’s a clue. Her haunting melodies keep the punters transfixed and it’s obvious we are putty in her hands. Lomond, who offers the occasional backing vocals in addition to his fantastic synth sounds, has a relaxing “I’ll just go with the flow” attitude, one which is likely required when touring with Kathryn. He knows which side his bread is buttered.
Unlike Lomond’s set, there are gaps in between Kathyn’s tunes, which allows her time to say a few things, such as referencing the current Palestine situation or slowly sneaking a sip of her red wine. She mentions to us that she’s drunk, but I’m guessing it’s artistic licence here as there’s absolutely no slurring of lyrics or misplaced notes that I could hear. Although toilet habits were discussed and a poll of standing and wiping or not was held with the audience. The outcome of a mere two who favoured the “it’s a lot less bother with a hover” attitude, secured Brighton as the cleanest audience on the tour thus far.
The longer the set goes on for, arguably the more intense the synthesizer sound becomes. I also note that on occasions Kathryn’s voice has an impressive quavering style when needed, which reminds me of the rather wonderful Gemma Williams aka Woodpecker Wooliams, and there’s a hint of Patti Smith in there as well. The haunting melodies are delivered in her inimitable style and before we know it, the duo have finished the new album’s closing number, ‘Fire’. We are then rewarded with title track of 2022’s ‘For You Who Are The Wronged’ album, and after which Kathryn referred to Lomond as a “psychopath” (in a friendly way) and that he had got a hold of a handful of tunes from her 2022 album and changed them into dance numbers. I, for one, would like to take the opportunity to salute the gentleman as he’s come up with a handful of really decent remixes.
The sedate material has given away to dance beats with Kate Bush style vocals sitting perfectly atop. Kathryn becomes more animated, just like the lighting has now become, thus adding to the fans enjoyment. ‘What Is Keeping You Alive Makes Me Want to Kill Them For (Remix)’ is the first of these dance tunes, but with the arrival of the next few, the music got even better. ‘The Burning Of Us All (Remix)’ was a step up, and then ‘Long Gone (Remix)’ was a step further. I was now sensing that the material was akin to The Knife, Vile Electrodes, and Becky Becky (which features the aforementioned Gemma Williams). ‘Until The Truth Of You (Remix)’ is a monster of a tune, as was my choice cut of the whole performance. Kathryn then takes time out to thank James on sound and lights for his work this evening and they sign off with the less intense ‘Call It Out (Remix)’, which sees the duo slightly less connected. Maybe the wine has kicked in, or the moment was lost with the stop for the “thank you”.
I’m pleased that I’ve finally broken my Kathryn Joseph duck, and to be honest, I’m rather hoping that Lomond gets his hands on even more of her material, as this is more my bag.
Kathryn Joseph:
Kathryn Joseph – lead vocals, keys
Lomond Campbell – synth, electronics, backing vocals
Kathryn Joseph setlist:
‘WOLF.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘DARK.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘HARBOUR.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘BEL(II).’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘BEFORE.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘DEER.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘DRAWN.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘ROADKILL.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘HOLD.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘CHILDREN.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘FIRE.’ (from 2025 ‘We Were Made Prey.’ album)
‘For You Who Are The Wronged’ (from 2022 ‘For You Who Are The Wronged’ album)
‘What Is Keeping You Alive Makes Me Want to Kill Them For’ (from 2024 ‘For You Who Are The Wronged (Lomond Campbell Remixes)’ EP)
‘The Burning Of Us All’ (from 2024 ‘For You Who Are The Wronged (Lomond Campbell Remixes)’ EP)
‘Long Gone’ (from 2024 ‘For You Who Are The Wronged (Lomond Campbell Remixes)’ EP)
‘Until The Truth Of You’ (from 2024 ‘For You Who Are The Wronged (Lomond Campbell Remixes)’ EP)
‘Call It Out’ (from 2024 ‘For You Who Are The Wronged (Lomond Campbell Remixes)’ EP)
The night of electronica opens this evening with Lomond Campbell and his website states thus:
“Lomond Campbell lives quietly by a loch in the highlands making music and building music machines” as well as “I make music, machines and visual art here at my studio The Lengths. I produced Kathryn Joseph’s SAY award shortlisted album ‘for you who are the wronged’ and ‘WE WERE MADE PREY’. I’ve composed for film and radio and also do a bit of remixing, most recently an entire album for Dot Allison. I make all my own music videos and have done a few for Kathryn Joseph too”.
Tonight’s 28 minute electronic instrumental set ran from 8:16pm to 8:44pm and whizzed by. His ASM Hydrasynth is very much to the fore, although other electronic gubbins are also utilized across the continuous musical journey which spanned a handful of cuts from his 2021-23 period as well as I believe a yet-to-be-released closing track.
The set begins with a floaty vibe, but before long gives way to almost screeching sounds and then four minutes into the performance the booming electronic beat kicks in and there’s swirling Numanesque sound in there too. There’s a real dance tinge to the tunes as well. It wouldn’t surprise me if Lomond’s work was to be picked up for use in Hollywood blockbuster movies as it has that desired vibe. There’s also fractional nods to Kraftwerk in parts as well with the occasional bleep or two. The punters clearly absorb the musical vibrations throughout the set, as Lomond is dutifully rewarded with enthusiastic applause on its conclusion.
So in summary, an artist that I would be keen to see perform live again!
Lomond Campbell:
Lomond Campbell – synth, electronics
Lomond Campbell setlist:
‘Phonon For No One’ (from 2022 ‘Under This Hunger Moon We Fell’ album)
‘Even Songbirds Suffer’ (from 2022 ‘Under This Hunger Moon We Fell’ album)
‘Infinite Spin’ (from 2023 ‘Interference Patterns’ cassette album)
‘Rad Brad Ivy’ (from 2021 ‘LŪP’ album)
‘Outrun’ (unreleased)
